European Council President António Costa said Friday that the team for the next Ukraine talks will include EU institutions and five countries, defining Europe's role in a process involving U.S. envoys as Moscow weighs the format.
Costa described the lineup on Nov. 13 as EU institutions alongside France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. Those five states are the E5 within the Coalition of the Willing, according to the European Council's account of the leaders' meeting.
The announcement followed comments in Dublin on Nov. 12 from U.S. envoy Jared Kushner and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said European representatives would join the next discussions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would weigh Europe's intentions and willingness to contribute before deciding whether to widen the dialogue, Reuters and The Associated Press reported.
Zelenskyy said the Dublin meeting produced preparations for a prisoner release, a greater European role in diplomacy and plans for more multilateral meetings. Kushner said Washington was working toward an exchange that could involve thousands of people. Officials have announced no total or timetable. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was counting on what he called the “largest prisoner exchange since the start of this war.”
The European Council's Nov. 10 readout described the Abu Dhabi session as preparatory work with Ukraine, the United States and European partners on peace efforts and security guarantees before a planned three-party round with Russia.
Kushner said European participation would bring postwar security arrangements into discussions alongside the territorial dispute. He added that broader European security arrangements would not be finalized without addressing Ukraine's security concerns. Costa has described EU priorities as a ceasefire, restored Black Sea navigation and conditions for a peace agreement.
The announcement follows earlier EconoTimes coverage of the planned prisoner swap and Abu Dhabi talks. Officials have not announced the next round's date, location or negotiating tracks. Kushner said he expected to share more information soon.
