European leaders gathered in Dublin on Wednesday while US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in the Irish capital following discussions in Moscow, ANSA reported.
The diplomatic push centers on restructuring upcoming talks on Ukraine from a trilateral format into a broader multilateral framework.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pushed back against existing formats during the European Political Community summit. “Ci sono troppi formati, non è solo una questione di nome ma di mandato,” Meloni said. She met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside Berlin-group leaders before Zelensky held talks with E5 sherpa representatives.
The debate exposes deep divisions among European capitals over who should represent the bloc in peace negotiations. While Baltic states argue that European Council President Antonio Costa and High Representative Kaja Kallas are ready to lead a unified team, Paris and Berlin defend the established E3 model. Friedrich Merz maintained that the specific individuals matter less than ensuring Russia sits down to negotiate.
“Abbiamo un formato collaudato, l’E3. In parte lavoriamo insieme a cinque rappresentanti: Germania, Regno Unito, Francia, Italia e Polonia. Non vedo alcun problema nel fatto che resti così,” Friedrich Merz said, as reported by Il Sole 24 ORE. President Emmanuel Macron added that the substantive issues under discussion must determine the negotiating structure.
Italian Aid Packages
Italy arrived in Dublin with a defense package for Kyiv valued between 800 million and nearly one billion euros, according to government sources cited by Corriere della Sera. The funding marks a significant increase following a nearly year-long freeze on direct military shipments from Rome.
The newly approved decree follows weeks of quiet friction among allied governments regarding tangible financial and military contributions. Berlin recently published a comprehensive accounting of its multi-billion-euro transfers to Kyiv, placing renewed pressure on partners with slower disbursement rates.
Meloni described her bilateral meeting with Zelensky as productive, addressing both the coordination of European negotiators and the delivery schedules for winter military assets. The Italian leader intends to press her case for a single, authorized EU negotiating mandate during Thursday’s informal European Council meeting.
Moscow Meetings
Ahead of their arrival in Dublin, US envoys Witkoff and Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin used the session to issue a direct warning regarding allied military involvement on the ground in Ukraine.
“La Russia ha affermato fin dall’inizio che la presenza di truppe straniere in Ucraina è inaccettabile. Le truppe straniere in Ucraina costituiranno un obiettivo legittimo,” Vladimir Putin said, according to Tass reports cited by Il Sole 24 ORE.
Despite those warnings, the American envoys and European sherpas agreed that future talks must transition from bilateral or trilateral tracks into multilateral negotiations. A subsequent round of discussions involving the US, Ukraine, and Russia is anticipated shortly after Nov. 19, aligned with a planned summit of the Coalition of the Willing in Berlin and a trilateral meeting in Shenzhen between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next round of Ukraine peace talks scheduled?
Negotiations involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia are projected to take place shortly after Nov. 19, following a meeting of supporting nations in Berlin.
What financial value does the latest Italian support package carry?
According to Corriere della Sera, the newly unblocked decree provides military and comprehensive aid valued conservatively at over 800 million euros, approaching one billion euros.
Who opposes appointing an exclusive European Union peace mediator?
Leaders from France, Germany, and several Baltic nations have expressed reservations or insisted on maintaining established diplomatic channels like the E3 format rather than consolidating all talks under a single EU institutional mandate.
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