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Estonia proposes Costa and Kallas to represent the EU in negotiations with Russia

Riana Gegiu

12 November 2026, 14:22

Foto: Shtterstock.com

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The European Union has not yet decided who will represent the bloc in potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. The issue is on the agenda of the summit of European leaders in Dublin and is causing divisions among the 27 member states, after the United States and Ukraine asked the EU to appoint a representative for the future discussions.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal named European Council President Antonio Costa and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, suggesting that their positions make them suitable for the mission. Both have consistently supported Ukraine, but some governments fear they would be unacceptable to the Kremlin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a representative to be appointed by the end of the month so that Europe can participate in the continuation of talks between Kyiv and Moscow. Other options under consideration include Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, as well as a format involving France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

European countries want a seat at the negotiating table because any peace agreement would have direct consequences for the continent’s security. US envoy Jared Kushner criticized the lack of consensus and said that appointing a single person would represent a major achievement for the EU.

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Context: The EU confirmed its participation in the Abu Dhabi round of negotiations, but the officials’ role remains unclear

Before the discussions in Dublin on appointing a representative, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the Union would be present at the peace negotiations scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, in Abu Dhabi. According to Politico, the Commission was expected to be represented by Bjoern Seibert (von der Leyen’s chief of staff), and the European Council by Anna-Maria Boura (the chief foreign policy adviser to President António Costa), but it was unclear whether they would participate directly in the negotiating room or act as observers.

At the same time, disagreements among European leaders were also fueled by calls for a joint mandate: Giorgia Meloni called for the rapid appointment of a representative with clear powers, warning that the lack of coordination would make the EU “irrelevant” in the peace negotiations. Along the same lines, EUISS Director Steven Everts proposed that the Europeans appoint a single negotiator with a joint mandate, and discussions intensified after the visit of American envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow.