Zelenskyy Urges European Role in US-Russia Security Talks

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged European leaders at the ninth European Political Community summit in Dublin to remain central to any negotiations regarding the continent's future security architecture. Zelenskyy cautioned that ending the war without European participation would be "unjust" and "impossible," suggesting that Europe appoint a single representative for future talks.

These warnings follow shuttle diplomacy by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who traveled to Dublin to brief Zelenskyy after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. These meetings followed two days of inconclusive US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi. While the US has suggested a possible new security architecture for Europe, European leaders expressed concern that Washington might align with Russia, which seeks to roll back NATO and secure territorial concessions in the Donbas.

EU Council President Antonio Costa rejected the need to reinvent security structures, stating the previous architecture was destroyed by Russia's invasion. Similarly, French President Emmanuel Macron secured signatures from approximately 40 European countries on a declaration asserting that European security must be decided in consultation with Europeans based on existing treaties. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced immediate winter aid for Ukraine and the preparation of a 22nd sanctions package against Russia.