Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that a European voice at the Ukraine peace talks cannot be confined to EU member states and that countries like the UK should have a role. Speaking ahead of an informal meeting of the EU Council in Dublin on Friday, Mr Martin acknowledged that pressure was increasing for European nations to agree how they would be represented in negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the US when they resume.
Pressure builds for European representation
On Thursday, US talks envoy Jared Kushner indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was willing to accept European involvement in the process. Mr Kushner was speaking after he and fellow US envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Baldonnel military aerodrome on the outskirts of Dublin. That meeting took place shortly after US President Donald Trump's representatives held a similar meeting with Mr Putin in Moscow.
The exchanges followed talks involving the US envoys and delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi earlier in the week. Those negotiations did not make substantive progress toward ending the conflict but did see the warring sides agree to a significant prisoner release deal.
Dublin hosts major political meetings
Dublin has become a focal point for deliberations around efforts to end the war this week because the city has been hosting two major political meetings across two days. EU leaders convened in the Irish capital on Thursday, joined by a range of other allies and partners, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, for a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC).
Mr Martin said it was "now clear that Europe will be at the talks." He added: "The discussions today will focus perhaps both on the content and the type of peace that Europe wants to secure, the sustainable peace, and then also in terms of there will be discussion, obviously, in terms of who represents Europe."
E3 coalition role considered
The Taoiseach was asked whether the E3 coalition of the UK, France and Germany should take the lead when it comes to representing the continent. Officials from the E3 have been involved in the margins of the process to date. Mr Martin said no decisions had been taken but noted the E3 format had been used in previous peace negotiations. Some within the European Union have said that a senior EU diplomat should take on the role of talks envoy.
Mr Martin told reporters at the Convention Centre in Dublin: "In some shape or form, there will be, I think, an E3 dimension to this, and I don't think it can just be a European Union dimension, because the Coalition of the Willing has involved far more than the European Union. The United Kingdom has had a significant role, Norway has had a very significant role in terms of the Ukraine, and that all has to be taken into consideration because it's a European continent-wide issue."
Security and peacekeeping commitments
Dublin hosted the EPC summit and Friday's informal meeting of the EU Council as part of Ireland's six-month presidency of the EU Council. The major back-to-back political gatherings have seen the Irish authorities roll out the biggest security operation in the history of the state.
Addressing the EPC on Thursday, Mr Zelensky warned European leaders of Russia's intent to reshape the security framework of the continent. He also expressed concern at the latest speed restrictions on SpaceX's Starshield satellite internet service over occupied parts of Ukraine, from where Russian drone attacks are launched. He told delegates the 100mph restriction was limiting Ukraine's ability to take out the fast-moving jet-powered drones.
The Taoiseach reiterated that Ireland would be prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine in a peacekeeping capacity if there was a requirement for ceasefire monitoring as part of any peace deal. Mr Martin also stressed the need for EU leaders to agree its future level of financial support for Ukraine. "What is clear is Ukraine will need clarity for 2027," he said. "Our partners will need clarity for 2027. The sooner that happens the better because it sends a very strong signal that Europe is there for the long haul for Ukraine."
Mr Kushner, Mr Witkoff and Mr Zelensky appeared together to give statements to the media after their Thursday night meeting at Baldonnel military aerodrome. Mr Kushner said: "We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table." He added: "I think that we're able to achieve that with President Putin." Mr Zelensky stressed the importance of Europe's involvement. "They will have a voice," he told reporters at the airbase. "This is important for us because the war is in Europe."
Friday's informal EU Council meeting will also include a strategic discussion on artificial intelligence (AI). The agenda said leaders of the member states would discuss how to "harness AI's potential to boost European competitiveness and examine its wider impact on society, security and trust."
