European leaders have agreed to form a five-nation negotiating group to represent the continent in future Ukraine peace talks, bringing together Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland alongside European Union institutions.
European Council President António Costa announced the decision on November 13 following a meeting of EU leaders in Dublin, ending months of uncertainty over who would speak for Europe in negotiations aimed at ending the war.
The five countries, known as the E5, are among Europe's major military powers. Britain will participate despite no longer being a member of the European Union.
Costa said Europe needed a coordinated position in discussions affecting Ukraine's future and the continent's security.
NATO is also expected to be represented in the wider negotiating process, although the precise composition of the European delegation has not been finalized.
The agreement follows US-mediated diplomatic efforts involving Ukraine and Russia, including recent talks in Abu Dhabi and meetings between American envoys and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
US envoy Steve Witkoff said European representatives would participate in the next round of negotiations, a development welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia indicated it could accept European participation if the countries involved demonstrated a genuine commitment to reaching a peace agreement.
However, Moscow has called for discussions on Europe's broader security architecture, while European leaders insist that Ukraine's sovereignty and existing European security arrangements must remain central to the process.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected the prospect of negotiations over Ukraine without Kyiv or decisions about European security without European participation.
The agreement establishes a European negotiating framework but does not resolve disputes over territory, security guarantees or the terms of a possible ceasefire.
No final peace agreement or confirmed date for the next negotiating round has been announced.
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