Europe seeks Ukraine peace talks seat but struggles to unify its position

European nations are seeking an envoy to represent them in Ukraine peace talks, fearing a U.S.-backed process will sideline them and leave Kyiv vulnerable as Moscow and Washington decide the conflict's fate. No consensus exists yet on who should hold the role. Leaders debated the envoy's identity and scope at a Dublin EU summit Friday, with candidates including EU officials Antonio Costa and Kaja Kallas, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Ukraine and the U.K. back European involvement, but Russia opposes direct participation, and European leaders distrust U.S. President Donald Trump's negotiations. A "historic declaration" by 40 European nations affirmed that peace decisions should involve Ukraine and European security matters require European input. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Europe would join the next talks, though Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed European divisions, saying "The Europeans squabble like spiders in a jar."