EU races to name envoy for Putin talks on Ukraine

EU leaders are under pressure to quickly appoint a special envoy to represent Europe in peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, with a decision expected before month's end. The move comes as the US, under President Donald Trump, has reduced support for Ukraine and signaled willingness to compromise with Russia. At a summit in Dublin on Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pushing for a unified European voice, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists a single envoy be named by the end of November. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposes a trio from Germany, France, and Britain, a plan opposed by Poland and other Eastern European states. Speculation centers on Meloni or Danish PM Mette Frederiksen as potential candidates. The role of EU Council President António Costa is questioned due to his low profile, and leaders from countries bordering Russia, such as Finland's Alexander Stubb, are seen as unsuitable due to perceived bias and vulnerability to hybrid threats. The urgency stems from US-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi, where a future agreement may include a "changed European security strategy," which Europe finds unacceptable.