EU leaders to meet in Dublin amid prospect of Europe joining Ukraine peace talks

EU leaders will convene in Dublin later with the conflict in Ukraine again set to be a key focus of discussions.

The meeting of the 27 member states in the Irish capital comes at the end of a week that has seen the question of European participation in future peace negotiations feature in a fresh round of talks involving delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the US.

Europe now looks set to play a role when negotiations resume, with US envoy Jared Kushner indicating on Thursday night that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to accept the bloc’s involvement.

Mr Kushner was speaking after he and fellow US envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin – discussions that took place shortly after President Donald Trump’s representatives held a similar meeting with Mr Putin in Moscow.

The exchanges followed talks involving the US envoys and delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi earlier in the week – negotiations that did not make substantive progress toward ending the conflict but did see the warring sides agree to a significant prisoner release deal.

EU leaders also convened in Dublin on Thursday when they were joined by a range of other allies and partners, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, for a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC).

Dublin hosted the EPC summit and Friday’s informal meeting of the EU Council as part of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council.

The major back-to-back political gatherings have seen the Irish authorities roll out the biggest security operation in the history of the state.

Addressing the EPC on Thursday, Mr Zelensky warned European leaders of Russia’s intent to reshape the security framework of the continent.

Mr Zelensky also expressed concern at the latest speed restrictions on the SpaceX’s Starshield satellite internet service over occupied parts of Ukraine where Russian drone attacks are launched from.

He told delegates the 100mph restriction was limiting Ukraine’s ability to take out the fast-moving jet-powered drones.

Later on Thursday night, after the meeting between the US envoys and Mr Zelensky at Baldonnel military aerodrome on the outskirts of Dublin, Mr Kushner said: “We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table.”

He added: “I think that we’re able to achieve that with President Putin.”

Mr Zelensky stressed the importance of Europe’s involvement.

“They will have a voice,” he told reporters at the airbase.

“This is important for us because the war is in Europe”.

Friday’s informal EU Council meeting is also set to include a strategic discussion on artificial intelligence (AI).

The agenda said leaders of the member states will discuss how to “harness AI’s potential to boost European competitiveness and examine its wider impact on society, security and trust”.