First EU summit on AI overshadowed by disputes over who should represent the Union at peace negotiations for Ukraine

European Union leaders are meeting in Dublin on Friday for their first summit dedicated to artificial intelligence, with the aim of discussing how the bloc can catch up with the United States and China, as well as addressing funding issues and other difficulties. Nevertheless, they are expected to continue disputes over who should represent the EU at a possible future expanded meeting to negotiate peace in Ukraine, writes Politico.

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The European Union is united on the need to have a seat at the negotiating table, as Ukraine’s main supporter, but not on who should represent it. Thus, diplomats and officials told POLITICO that the bloc has split into at least three camps.

Although support is growing for European Council President António Costa, whose position makes him the natural candidate to represent the Union, France and Germany are reluctant to cede their own seats at the negotiating table to Brussels. One camp is also represented by supporters of Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who would be a logical option if it were not for her tough stance toward Russia.

This comes as Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its efforts to mediate an end to the war launched by Russia – and Europe appears to have secured a seat at the negotiating table – while disputes over who will speak on behalf of the bloc are already threatening to overshadow the summit in the Irish capital; an event that initially was not even intended to address the issue of Ukraine.

.„They could even make a TV show about this,” Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal joked in an interview with POLITICO on Thursday, a detail that underscores how deep the disagreements between leaders have become. “But we’ll save the best part for tomorrow.”

We recall that U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, discussed this issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, before the two Americans arrived in Dublin that evening to present Zelenskiy with their views.

Steve Witkoff announced on Thursday that Putin had allegedly agreed to the EU’s presence at the negotiating table.

The EU’s first AI summit

For the first time, leaders will hold a strategic discussion on artificial intelligence (AI).

“They will examine how AI’s potential can be harnessed to boost European competitiveness and will assess its broader impact on society, security and trust,” according to a statement from the European Council.

The meeting is taking place amid growing concerns about a technology that promises to transform industries and societies but which, in recent months, has caused alarm following a series of incidents involving artificial intelligence systems that escaped control.

This week, Jensen Huang’s resignation, the chief executive of Nvidia (NVDA.O), also caused a stir, against the backdrop of his extramarital relationship with an alleged Chinese spy, leaving the industry without its most important promoter.

On the other hand, discussions about the latest developments related to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including peace talks shaping Ukraine’s future and Europe’s security, are also on the agenda.

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Nicușor Dan attends the informal meeting of the European Council in Dublin, where leaders discuss the future of AI and peace in Ukraine