EU Institutions and Five Countries to Represent Europe in Ukraine Peace Talks
European Council President António Costa said Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland will join EU institutions as Europe's team for negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.
By Amit Ricci ·
Europe will be represented in future negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine by the European Union's own institutions together with five of the continent's countries: Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland. The arrangement was confirmed by European Council President António Costa, who said the bloc's leaders had reached agreement on the team that would speak for Europe.
Costa made the announcement at a press conference in Dublin, where he spoke to reporters following an informal summit of EU leaders, European Pravda reported. The informal summit brought the bloc's leaders together in the Irish capital, and Costa addressed the media once the gathering had concluded.
The European Union's position, Costa said, was clear: Europe's security begins with Ukraine's security. He said the bloc welcomes all diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing Russia to the negotiating table.
"We are fully engaged in supporting the ongoing process and we hope it will deliver concrete results," Costa said. He told the press conference that the leaders had agreed that "our European team for the negotiations on peace in Ukraine is the European Union institutions and the E5 of the Coalition of the Willing."
The E5 brings together Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland, a five-country format drawn from the Coalition of the Willing. Under the arrangement agreed by the leaders, this group will sit alongside the EU institutions on the European side of any future peace negotiations.
Costa added that the European Union's principles and positions in these negotiations remained well known, and said the European team would continue to act in close coordination and complete unity as the diplomatic process moves forward.
"Europe must speak with one clear and united voice. In all discussions that shape the future of Ukraine and the security of our country," the European Council president said.
Politico previously reported that the E5 countries would be represented in the talks by their national security advisers.
Media reports had also suggested that EU countries were divided into three camps over the question of who should represent them in any talks with Russia, an issue that had been the subject of debate among member states.
