EU strikes Ukraine deal as summit pivots from AI

Dublin summit derailed by Ukraine

EU leaders gathered in Dublin on Friday to discuss artificial intelligence but spent most of their time debating Ukraine peace talks and who should represent Europe in future negotiations.

EU agrees on negotiating team

After disagreement over format, EU leaders struck a deal: national security officials from Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Poland plus European Commission and Council representatives will handle Ukraine talks.

“It is essential to have a team and to speak with one voice.”

Merz warns Trump: no surprises

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the US to keep Europe informed ahead of a Trump-Putin meeting scheduled for November eighteen to nineteen at an APEC summit in Shenzhen, China.

“Please, no surprises! Continue to play on Team Europe and on the same team as Ukraine.”

Kallas pushes for chief diplomat role

EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas argued she was best placed to lead Ukraine discussions, noting that Europe has no say in who represents Russia in negotiations.

“I know that the Russians don't want me, but do we have a say on who is representing Russia? No, we don't.”

AI sovereignty takes back seat

Over lunch, EU leaders discussed making artificial intelligence more sovereign and less dependent on US and Chinese technology. Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch urged directing two hundred sixty billion euros toward European tech infrastructure.

Putin opens door, then hedges

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to Europeans joining Ukraine talks, reversing Moscow's previous opposition. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov then qualified this, saying Europeans must first demonstrate genuine intention to contribute to peace.

Kallas calls Russia's terms a trap

Kaja Kallas dismissed Russia's preconditions as a trap, warning that accepting them would mean concessions on NATO withdrawal, sanctions lifting and foreign troop bans in Ukraine.

“If we start to talk about what Russia is asking regarding the security architecture, we actually walk into the traps that Russia is setting us.”