“There is no more US support.” Those five words from French President Emmanuel Macron in Dublin this week summed up the fear running through Europe’s leaders: that the future of Ukraine – and of Europe’s own security – could be decided without them.
What was said in Dublin
At Thursday’s European Political Community summit in the Convention Centre, attended by almost 50 leaders, Macron warned that Europe’s support for Ukraine was critical because Washington had stepped back, according to Extra.ie.
European Council President António Costa said Russia “has yet to demonstrate it prioritises peace over dominance”, and that the future of European security “cannot be discussed and decided without Europe”, according to The Irish Times. He said the idea of carving up spheres of influence belonged in the “dustbin of history”.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia wants to reshape Europe’s entire security framework.
The Americans fly in from Moscow
The most dramatic moment came off-stage. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff flew into Ireland straight from talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow and met Zelenskyy at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on Thursday night.
Kushner said the US side had argued for Europeans to be included in negotiations. Zelenskyy said the US had made progress with Putin on Europeans taking part in future talks: “Our soldiers will come home and I am very thankful to all our negotiators.”
Who speaks for Europe?
That’s the question EU leaders are wrestling with today. After a letter from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni complaining about “disarray” among Europe’s diplomatic efforts, the Dublin meeting is discussing the “profile, format and mandate” of a possible EU envoy to peace talks, according to EUobserver. Names are being left for later.
The Kremlin has said in recent weeks that if the EU put forward a negotiator who genuinely wanted to help reach a settlement, it would support it, the Kyiv Post reported – though Moscow has also accused Europe of trying to negotiate “from a position of strength”.
Ireland’s role
Ireland holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU and is hosting the summits. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has backed Costa’s moves to open a line of communication with Moscow, saying earlier this year that opening a channel “is not a mistake”. Martin said this week that Washington and Moscow both know there can be no settlement without Europe.
What happens next
There was little sign of a breakthrough in Dublin. But for the first time in months, Europe’s leaders are openly talking about how – not whether – they get into the room. For Ukraine, and for a continent that no longer feels it can count on America, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Sources: The Irish Times, Extra.ie, EUobserver, Kyiv Post.
Main image: Guillaume Périgois / Unsplash
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