The key facts

  • Kaja Kallas: Europe should not discuss security without a ceasefire agreement
  • Von der Leyen expressed full confidence in the EU's participation in the talks
  • Zelensky: European representatives will become part of the negotiating group with a voice

Kallas's Warning

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, urged European countries to exercise caution regarding the upcoming talks on ending Russia's war against Ukraine. According to her, at the first stage — before an agreement on a ceasefire is reached — Europe should not agree to discuss the architecture of European security. If Europeans give in to such demands from Russia, they will, in her assessment, 'in effect fall into the traps Russia has set.' She said this on November 13 in Dublin ahead of a meeting of EU heads of state and government, Kun.uz reports.

The Positions of von der Leyen, the Kremlin and Kyiv

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also speaking in Dublin, expressed full confidence that Europe would be involved in peace talks on Ukraine: 'I am fully confident in Europe's participation in the peace talks.' According to her, in these talks Europe 'defends its interests and supports Ukraine.'

The Negotiation Format Remains a Bargaining Chip

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would decide on expanding the format of the talks only once the 'genuine readiness of the Europeans to contribute to the peace process' becomes clear, adding that Vladimir Putin 'has never been the one to initiate a reduction of relations with the Europeans.'

Zelensky: A Voice for Europe

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Europe's participation in future talks with Russia, announcing this after a meeting with Donald Trump's special envoys Jared Kushner and Steven Witkoff near Dublin. According to him, the American side, at the meeting with Putin, 'achieved a certain degree of progress on the issue of the Europeans,' and at the next round, European representatives will become part of the negotiating group and 'will have a voice.' Kushner had also reported Russia's readiness to involve European representatives in the talks.

Context: From the Sidelines to the Negotiating Table

European countries are already demanding that their representatives be included in the talks on a settlement in Ukraine. Earlier, at the Russia–Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi mediated by the United States, European representatives took part only on the sidelines of the meetings. The statements in Dublin show that the question of the format remains open: the EU insists on full participation, Russia ties it to the Europeans' 'genuine intentions,' and the specific conditions for such participation have not yet been disclosed by either side.