EU leaders in Dublin defer key decisions on Ukraine peace talks and funding

European Union leaders concluded two days of informal talks in Dublin on Friday without resolving key issues, including who should represent Europe in Ukraine peace negotiations and how to secure at least €45 billion in urgent financial aid for Kyiv. The discussions, held at the Convention Centre Dublin, saw US peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff confirm European participation in upcoming talks with Russia and Ukraine. France, Germany, the UK, Italy, and Poland, known as the E5, along with EU institutions, will form Europe's negotiating team for now. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin said a decision on a single EU envoy could come within weeks, though progress toward peace appears limited. EU leaders are considering collective borrowing or using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, with formal decisions expected at Brussels summits before year-end.