EU Leaders Pick Five Nations for Ukraine Peace Talks in Dublin

EU leaders agreed Friday in Dublin that five major European countries—France, Germany, the UK, Poland, and Italy—will represent Europe at Ukraine peace negotiations, alongside EU institutions and potentially NATO. The decision, driven by US pressure and Ukraine's requests, resolves a long-standing dispute over negotiation format. Russia has accepted European participation, though NATO's role remains uncertain, with security guarantees reportedly handled by the E3 nations. The agreement comes as leaders also discussed Ukraine's request for €45 billion in EU funding, with Germany threatening to block the EU budget if some countries opt out. Negotiations on the mandate will follow.