EU leaders bring Italy and Poland into Ukraine peace talks team as Kallas fights for spot

Europe has decided on a joint team for the peace talks led by France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, the EU institutions and NATO. Despite mounting pressure, leaders declined to appoint a single envoy.

European Union leaders have agreed on a joint team to represent Europe in the ongoing negotiations to end Russia's war on Ukraine, comprising France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom.

The UK is not an EU member but belongs to the E3 group.

The European Council, European Commission and NATO will also be represented.

The decision was taken on Friday at an informal summit in Dublin, Ireland, where the possibility of appointing a special envoy dominated discussions. Ukraine, the United States and even Russia had called on the EU to appoint a single representative.

Ahead of the meeting, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had criticised the "disarray" of voices in the peace process and called for a single European envoy.

Instead, EU leaders opted to expand the existing negotiating group, adding Italy and Poland. Warsaw had pointedly warned against Western European countries making decisions on behalf of the East.

"We are fully engaged in supporting the ongoing process, and we hope it will deliver concrete results," European Council President António Costa said.

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