European Leaders Form E5 Negotiating Team for Ukraine Peace Talks in Dublin

European leaders met at a summit in Dublin on November 14, 2026, and reached an agreement to form an E5 negotiating team to participate in peace negotiations regarding the conflict in Ukraine. This new format includes Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The negotiating group will include representatives from the European Commission and the European Council, and the team will participate at the level of national security advisors. The E5 team is scheduled to participate in talks with the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.

Diplomatic Context and Recent Meetings

The formation of this group follows recent diplomatic activity in the Middle East and Russia. According to Serbian media, delegations from Russia and Ukraine held talks on November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi with United States mediation. These discussions represent a resumption of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine after a nine-month pause. Additionally, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on November 13.

The involvement of European representatives has been a point of discussion among international officials. US special envoy Jared Kushner stated that an agreement between Ukraine and Russia is not possible without European representatives. Furthermore, US special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to Europe attending the next round of negotiations. While the United States is leading the negotiations, President of the European Council Antonio Costa said the goal is for Europe to act with one voice and not be excluded from US-led talks.

Internal European Discussions

The creation of the E5 format follows specific requests and internal debates within the European Union. Serbian media reported that the E5 format was requested by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a letter to Antonio Costa. There has also been a dispute regarding whether European representation should consist of a single envoy or a team of diplomats.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for EU member states to intensify their participation in peace negotiations and stated that Europe must become a permanent participant in these negotiations. During the Dublin summit, European leaders held separate meetings with the Ukrainian delegation on the margins of the summit. Despite the move toward cooperation, Serbian media reported that European leaders lack trust in US President Donald Trump regarding negotiations conducted on their behalf.

Glossary

• E5 — The E5 is a negotiating team formed to participate in peace negotiations regarding the conflict in Ukraine. This format includes Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
• European Commission — The European Commission is an organization that includes representatives in the E5 negotiating group. It is an entity to which the EFSA must report as part of its transparency policy.
• Abu Dhabi — Abu Dhabi is a location where delegations from Russia and Ukraine held talks with United States mediation.