Politics · Italy · 1 hr ago
Meloni urges EU to agree on a unified role in Ukraine peace talks
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants the EU to speak with one voice in talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
She says shifting groups of negotiators and separate national initiatives risk weakening the bloc's credibility and influence.
European Council President Antonio Costa has agreed to discuss the issue at an informal EU leaders' meeting in Dublin on November 13.
The EU has used different representatives and groups for diplomatic and security discussions, while some European countries have also held separate contacts with Russia.
Meloni says the bloc should decide who represents it and what mandate they have; Italy would also accept a small group of countries acting with a clear mandate from all EU members.
A decision could be formalized at a December EU meeting, according to Meloni's proposal.
The EU's role matters because it provides most of Ukraine's financial support and is expected to help underwrite future security guarantees.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged the European Union to decide who should represent it in talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
She says the EU’s changing negotiating formats and multiple initiatives risk weakening its credibility and influence.
European Council President Antonio Costa backed the need for a clear, unified EU message and agreed to discuss the issue at an informal summit in Dublin.
The summit is scheduled for November 13, though its official agenda is focused on artificial intelligence.
Meloni’s office said Italy would also accept a group of three countries if it had a clear mandate from all EU members.
- Who
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is calling for a decision on EU representation. European Council President Antonio Costa supports a unified approach.
- What
- Meloni wants the EU to decide who represents it in Ukraine peace negotiations and with what mandate.
- When
- Meloni wrote to Costa ahead of an informal EU summit scheduled for November 13, 2026.
- Where
- The issue is due to be discussed at the informal European Council meeting in Dublin.
- Why
- Meloni says fragmented initiatives and changing negotiating formats risk undermining the EU’s credibility and influence.
Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Costa
Sergey Lavrov
Representation
Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Costa
Meloni calls for the EU to decide who represents it in talks and with what mandate; Costa says the EU should convey a clear, unified message.
Sergey Lavrov
Lavrov questions what Europeans can add to the Ukraine settlement process.
EU’s role
Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Costa
Costa says EU interests should be represented by its institutions and that it must support Ukraine.
Sergey Lavrov
Lavrov says Europe’s record as a guarantor, including the collapse of the Minsk agreements, cannot be ignored.
Politico reported that several European nations reacted negatively to a proposed phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Finland and Norway.
Meloni wrote to Costa urging a discussion of EU representation in Ukraine peace negotiations.
Costa responded that he would make time to discuss the matter at the informal European Council meeting.
The informal European Council summit is scheduled to take place in Dublin.
- Summit date
- November 13, 2026
- Summit location
- Dublin
- Proposed decision
- Who represents the EU in negotiations, and with what mandate
- Alternative format acceptable to Italy
- A group of three countries with a clear mandate from all
- European Council president
- Antonio Costa
7 sources
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Meloni urges EU to name single envoy for Ukraine talks — Bloomberg
What people are saying
What I continue to call for is that a decision be made once and for all as to who sits at the negotiating table representing the European Union, and with what mandate
The European Union's participation must be organized in a manner that enables it to convey a clear and unified message, to defend its interests, and to support Ukraine
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