Poland joins E5 as Europe's voice at Ukraine peace talks, Costa says

Poland will represent Europe alongside France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom at upcoming Ukraine peace negotiations, European Council President António Costa announced after an informal summit of EU heads of state and government in Dublin.

EU institutions will join the E5 delegation. 'Europe must speak with one clear and united voice in all discussions that shape the future of Ukraine and the security of our continent,' Costa said. 'Only Ukraine has the legitimacy to decide on matters concerning its territory and sovereignty.'

Costa said security guarantees for Ukraine must be addressed within the Coalition of the Willing and in close cooperation with NATO. 'Europe's security begins in Ukraine's security,' he said.

The E5 countries will be represented by their national security advisers, while the European Commission and the European Council represent the EU institutions. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's head of cabinet, Björn Seibert, will represent the Commission — a choice that signals the talks are not yet at a stage warranting the participation of national or EU leaders.

US negotiators said on Thursday that Vladimir Putin had agreed to European participation in future negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Europe must show a 'readiness to contribute' to the peace process. Moscow had earlier sought to keep the talks trilateral — Russia, Ukraine and the United States — and to put Europe's security architecture on the agenda without European negotiators.