In Dublin, at the close of an informal gathering of European leaders, Europe settled on the voices it will send into the long effort to end the war in Ukraine: the institutions of the Union joined with France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. The choice speaks to a continent that has learned, through years of war on its eastern edge, that it cannot afford to be a spectator to decisions about its own security. Yet the gathering of a unified team is only the first gesture, and the deeper question remains whether a negotiation between unequal sides can yield a peace that holds, with
E5 and EU Institutions to Form European Team in Ukraine Peace Talks
Preparations are underway for what could be the largest prisoner exchange since the war began, involving the release of detained people.
"This is our time," Tusk wrote, as Europe named its negotiating team.
Mark
Why does it matter that Europe has now named a specific team?
Mimi
Until now Europeans were largely reacting to talks among Washington, Kyiv and Moscow. Naming the E5 plus EU institutions gives them a defined seat, and Zelenskyy said outright that he wants Europeans to have an equal one.
Luke
Wanting an equal seat isn't the same as getting one. The reporting shows Europe agreeing among itself, not Washington or Moscow accepting that arrangement.
Mark
Who is actually in the team?
Mimi
France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, alongside the EU institutions. Costa framed it as acting in full unity with all member states, which matters because only some countries are at the table.
Luke
That's Costa's description. The source gives no detail on how the other member states will be consulted in practice.
Mark
What is Europe asking for in these talks?
Mimi
Von der Leyen named strong security guarantees and a plan for Ukraine's post-war prosperity, backed by a 22nd sanctions package and a proposal on the 2027 financing gap.
Luke
Those are proposals still to come. And Putin has said foreign troops in Ukraine are absolutely unacceptable, which collides with the guarantees Europe wants.
Mark
And the human side?
Mimi
Zelenskyy says a prisoner exchange is being prepared, possibly the largest of the war.
Luke
Note the wording: he is counting on it. No date or numbers have been given, so it remains unconfirmed.
O Pulso
- Europe has stepped forward as a single negotiating team, but the gaps over territory and security guarantees remain wide and unresolved.
- Moscow has flatly rejected any foreign troops on Ukrainian soil after a deal, pressing directly against the security plans Europe is building.
- Kyiv is pushing to seat Europeans as equals at the table, shifting the balance of who speaks for the continent in the talks.
- Brussels is answering with pressure, preparing a 22nd sanctions package and a proposal to close Ukraine's 2027 financing gap.
- Preparations for what could be the largest prisoner exchange since the war began are moving forward, and whether it materializes will show if diplomacy is gaining real momentum.
In Dublin, at the close of an informal gathering of European leaders, Europe settled on the voices it will send into the long effort to end the war in Ukraine: the institutions of the Union joined with France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. The choice speaks to a continent that has learned, through years of war on its eastern edge, that it cannot afford to be a spectator to decisions about its own security. Yet the gathering of a unified team is only the first gesture, and the deeper question remains whether a negotiation between unequal sides can yield a peace that holds, with a prisoner exchange and an equal seat at the table as its first fragile signs.
In Dublin, at the close of an Informal European Council, António Costa announced that Europe had chosen its voice for the talks to end the war in Ukraine. The team would combine the institutions of the European Union with the E5 of the Coalition of the Willing: France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. Costa stressed that the team would act in full unity with all member states, and leaders insisted that a single European position was needed to protect both Ukraine's interests and Europe's security.
Ursula von der Leyen welcomed what she called renewed momentum toward a just and lasting peace. She framed the goal as ending the war with strong security guarantees for Ukraine and a plan for its post-war prosperity. She was equally clear that diplomacy needs pressure behind it, which is why the Commission will soon propose a 22nd sanctions package alongside a plan to close Ukraine's financing gap for 2027. Donald Tusk called the moment "our time," saying that peace in Ukraine and the security of Poland and all of Europe were at stake.
The announcement follows a series of American-facilitated talks. Zelenskyy met in Ireland with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, after they had met Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and before that Russia, Ukraine and the United States held two days of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi without a breakthrough. Zelenskyy described the Irish meeting as producing key outcomes: prisoner releases, with Kyiv hoping for the largest exchange since the war began, and a more active role for Europeans at the table as equals.
The distance between the sides is still large. Putin repeated that any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory after a deal are absolutely unacceptable to Moscow. Whether the prisoner exchange happens, and whether the sanctions and financing proposals hold, will show whether this diplomacy is moving toward an end to the war.
In Dublin on Friday, at the close of an Informal European Council, António Costa told reporters that Europe had settled on who would speak for it in the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The European team, he said, would be the institutions of the European Union together with the E5 of the Coalition of the Willing: France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom.
Costa put the decision in writing on X as well. He said Europe's principles and positions in the talks remain well known, and that the team would act in full unity and in close coordination with all member states. Leaders at the press conference stressed that a single European position was needed, both to protect Ukraine's interests and to protect European security.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed what she called renewed momentum toward a just and lasting peace, and said a strong European presence matters. She described the aim as ending the war while securing strong security guarantees for Ukraine and a plan for its post-war prosperity, as talks move toward a multilateral format with the United States, Ukraine and Russia. She also tied diplomacy to pressure: continued support for Kyiv and more pressure on Moscow, she said, would be needed to bring Russia to the table. To that end, the Commission will soon propose a 22nd sanctions package, along with a proposal to close Ukraine's financing gap for 2027.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the arrangement on X. He said the five countries and the European institutions would represent Europe in negotiations with Russia, Ukraine and the United States, and that what is at stake is peace in Ukraine and the security of Poland and all of Europe. "This is our time," he wrote.
The announcement follows a run of American-facilitated diplomacy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently met in Ireland with Steve Witkoff, special envoy of US President Donald Trump, and Jared Kushner. That meeting came after the two men had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow. Before that, Russia, Ukraine and the United States held two days of trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi. Those ended without a breakthrough, though reportedly with progress on several issues, including preparations for a prisoner exchange.
Zelenskyy said the Ireland talks produced three key outcomes. The first was humanitarian: prisoners will be released, and Kyiv is counting on the largest prisoner exchange since the war began. The second, he said, was bringing European representatives more actively into diplomacy so they can have an equal seat at the negotiating table, adding that Ukraine always defends the interests of all of Europe. The source does not detail the third outcome.
The gaps between the sides remain wide, particularly over territorial arrangements and future security guarantees. In the Kremlin discussions, Putin restated Moscow's opposition to foreign troops being deployed on Ukrainian territory after any peace deal. "The presence of any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory is absolutely unacceptable to us," he said.
What to watch next: the Commission's 22nd sanctions package, the proposal on Ukraine's 2027 financing gap, and whether the large prisoner exchange actually takes place.
Citações Notáveis
The presence of any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory is absolutely unacceptable to us.— Vladimir Putin
We have agreed on a European team - E5 plus EU Institutions. We will defend both Ukraine's and Europe's interests.— Ursula von der Leyen
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