---
title: "Europe Cannot Decide Who Will Sit at the Negotiating Table with Russia: Another Deadlock in Dublin"
description: "At the European Political Community meeting in Dublin, more than 50 leaders discussed who would represent Europe in negotiations with Russia. No concrete decision was reached."
date: 2026-11-12T17:40:49.105Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/europe-cannot-choose-representative-negotiations-russia-dublin
tags: [europe, ukraine, russia, negotiations, dublin, european-political-community, zelensky, diplomacy]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Europe Cannot Decide Who Will Sit at the Negotiating Table with Russia: Another Deadlock in Dublin

![A group of European leaders posing for a photo at the European Political Community summit in Dublin.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/12/evropa-ne-mozhet-vybrat-predstavnika-na-peregovory-s-rossiey-dublin/evropa-ne-mozhet-vybrat-predstavnika-na-peregovory-s-rossiey-dublin-1.webp)

## Key Points

- At the EPC meeting in Dublin on November 12, more than 50 leaders failed to agree on who will represent Europe in negotiations with Russia
- Options involving Kaja Kallas and Antonio Costa or an expanded delegation are being considered; no consensus reached
- Zelenskyy urged a decision on a European representative this month and will meet with Witkoff and Kushner in Dublin
- German Chancellor Merz stated that the key issue is not personalities, but Putin's readiness for negotiations

More than 50 heads of state and government gathered on November 12 in Dublin for a meeting of the European Political Community, where the main topic was the question of who exactly will represent the European side in the event that the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine resumes. Despite the leaders unanimously recognizing the necessity of Europe's presence at the negotiating table, they did not move any closer to a concrete decision on choosing a representative. Most meeting participants limited themselves to general phrasing that a decision is "necessary" and "urgent," avoiding naming specific names.

### Kallas, Costa, or "several people": options that do not align

Several options were voiced in the corridors and at open sessions. Some leaders supported the candidacy of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas in conjunction with European Council President Antonio Costa, which corresponds to diplomatic protocol. Other participants advocated for a broader delegation—"several people"—to avoid concentrating power in one set of hands. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa did not mince words: "This chaos is our own fault," he stated, referring to Europe's years-long inability to develop a unified negotiation position. EU leaders intend to examine the matter more concretely on Friday at the Dublin summit; however, according to sources, the likelihood of making a decision to appoint a single special envoy at this meeting is extremely low.

### From "outsourcing diplomacy" to direct channels with Moscow

The timeline of European hesitation spans more than four years. Immediately after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a number of countries doubted whether it was even worth entering into a dialogue with Vladimir Putin. The United States took the initiative for all contacts with Moscow. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Dublin bluntly called it a "huge mistake to outsource diplomacy to others." Since then, Europe's position has evolved: Costa himself reached out to Moscow with a request on behalf of the EU, and the leaders of Norway and Finland created their own direct channel of communication with the Kremlin. Consultations on the possible appointment of an EU special representative for talks to end the war, according to reports, had been ongoing since early 2025, but a consensus could not be reached.

### Trilateral talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine and the role of Europe

On November 10–11, the first trilateral talks since February between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine took place in Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking to European leaders in Dublin, stated that he sees an opportunity to achieve progress in the coming months. On Thursday evening, he intends to meet with US representative Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to receive a report from them about their recent meeting with Putin. "We are waiting for more details, and Europe needs to watch this closely. We need to ensure that Europe becomes a regular part of these negotiations," emphasized Zelenskyy, calling on European capitals to make a decision on electing a representative within the current month.

### Doubts about Moscow's readiness and Merz's words

Despite the rhetoric about the need for European presence, a significant portion of leaders express caution regarding the real intentions of the Russian side. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, commenting on the situation, shifted the focus from the question of "who will talk" to the question of "whether there will be a conversation at all": "It is not about individual people now, but about Putin's willingness to participate in negotiations." At the same time, Merz added that "there is clearly a growing readiness on the Russian side to acknowledge that one cannot speak about Europe without Europe." Finnish President Alexander Stubb previously confirmed that a technical meeting in an expanded format involving Ukraine, the US, Russia, and Europe will take place, but no details about the format and composition of the delegations have been disclosed. Thus, Europe remains in the position of an observer who simultaneously demands a seat at the table but cannot agree on who exactly will occupy it.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Европа сомневается с выбором своего представителя на переговоры между Украиной и РФ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/evropa-vagaetsya-viborom-svogo-predstavnika-1794494635.html) - Primary source. All facts, quotes (Jansa, Rama, Merz, Zelenskyy), dates (November 10–11 trilateral talks, November 12 Dublin meeting), and names (Kallas, Costa, Stubb, Witkoff, Kushner) are taken from this material. No additional contradictions with other sources were identified.

## FAQ

### Who, in the opinion of European leaders, should represent Europe in negotiations with Russia?

There is no single position. Some leaders support the candidacy of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas and European Council President Antonio Costa. Others believe representation should be collective—"several people." A consensus could not be reached.

### When does Europe plan to make a decision on a representative for the negotiations?

EU leaders intend to consider the matter more substantively at the Dublin summit on Friday, November 14, 2026. However, according to available data, the probability of making a decision to appoint a single special envoy at this meeting is extremely low. Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a decision to be made this month.

### When were the last trilateral negotiations between the US, Russia, and Ukraine held?

The first trilateral negotiations since February between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine took place on November 10–11, 2026, in Washington. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he sees an opportunity to achieve progress in the coming months.

### What did German Chancellor Friedrich Merz say about the negotiations?

Merz stated that "it is not about individual people now, but about Putin's willingness to participate in negotiations," and added that "there is clearly a growing readiness on the Russian side to acknowledge that one cannot speak about Europe without Europe."