European leaders gather in Dublin as Ukraine war tops agenda

European leaders gather in Dublin for the European Political Community summit, with the war in Ukraine dominating talks as US envoys arrive after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. A large-scale prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia is the only tangible outcome so far. US envoy Jared Kushner said he will ask Putin to extend negotiations to include Europeans, while jibing that Europe needs one representative. EU ambassadors discussed a softened draft EU-UK statement, dropping controversial language on deportations and youth mobility details. The European Parliament is expected to urge Moscow to return over 20,500 deported Ukrainian children, which EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called a crime against humanity. The EU also plans defence talks with Qatar and Gulf states.