European Union leaders have agreed to establish a joint European negotiating team comprising EU institutions and five major European countries to represent the continent in upcoming peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine, European Council President António Costa announced on Friday.

The decision, reached during an informal EU summit in Dublin, Ireland, on November 13, seeks to ensure that Europe has a direct role in diplomatic efforts involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine, amid growing concerns that the continent could be sidelined in negotiations over a conflict with far-reaching implications for its security.

The proposed team will include France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, collectively known as the E5 within the Coalition of the Willing, alongside representatives of the European Commission and the European Council. NATO will also be closely involved in discussions concerning European security and guarantees for Ukraine.

"Europe must speak with one clear and united voice in all discussions that shape the future of Ukraine and the security of our continent," Costa said following the summit, stressing that the European delegation would operate in close coordination and unity.

He emphasized that Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty must remain central to any peace settlement, adding that only Kyiv has the legitimacy to make decisions concerning its territory and sovereignty.

Costa also outlined the EU's role in the negotiations, saying the bloc would focus on Ukraine's European integration, post-war reconstruction, economic prosperity and long-term financial support.

Meanwhile, security guarantees for Ukraine would be addressed within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing, in close coordination with NATO, he said.

The agreement follows weeks of disagreements among European leaders over how the continent should be represented in the peace process. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had called for the appointment of a single European envoy, arguing that multiple voices could weaken Europe's diplomatic influence.

However, EU leaders opted to expand the existing negotiating format rather than appoint a single representative, adding Italy and Poland to the group alongside France, Germany and the UK.

The decision also came amid renewed diplomatic activity following recent US-mediated contacts between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi. US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner subsequently met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, discussing prospects for advancing peace negotiations and European participation.

While Washington has indicated that Moscow may be open to European involvement, the Kremlin has yet to formally endorse the proposed arrangement. Russian officials have said they would welcome European participation if the countries involved genuinely intended to contribute to ending the war.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, meanwhile, rejected Russian calls to renegotiate Europe's broader security architecture, insisting that European security arrangements should not be determined without European involvement.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement, saying European countries were determined to defend their interests and continue supporting Ukraine until a just and lasting peace was achieved.

The European Council is also expected to discuss Ukraine's financial requirements for 2027 and beyond at its November 26-27 summit, as the bloc seeks to maintain financial and military assistance to Kyiv.

The coming weeks are expected to test Russia's willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations, with European leaders insisting that any lasting settlement must safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty and Europe's wider security interests. (ILKHA)