Europe Haggles Over Who Will Represent It in Talks With Russia

What the report says

European leaders are moving closer to gaining a formal place in negotiations over Russia’s war in Ukraine, but they first must decide who will speak for the continent. According to The New York Times World, the question is being debated as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner pressed to include Europe after Russia raised postwar European security as part of the talks. The discussions have centered on whether one person, or a small team, should represent Europe.

The issue has exposed familiar divisions inside Europe. Smaller countries do not always trust larger ones to reflect their interests, while states closer to Russia want a stronger say on security matters. Several names have surfaced, including António Costa, the European Union’s top political figure, as well as leaders such as Poland’s Donald Tusk and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. Some officials say a group approach may be more realistic than selecting a single envoy.

The timing is significant because the shape of any settlement could affect European security for years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Europeans to settle on a representative quickly, while EU leaders were set to discuss the matter in Dublin. The Times notes that Europe also has leverage in the talks because of sanctions on Russia and Ukraine’s possible future membership in the bloc. Even so, some European officials remain wary of engaging Moscow before a cease-fire is in place.