Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Dublin on Thursday, on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) summit. The two envoys are expected to arrive from Moscow, where they met Russian President Vladimir Putin, and will brief Zelenskyy on the latest efforts to end the war in Ukraine, following two days of talks in Abu Dhabi.
Zelenskyy is in Dublin for the ninth EPC summit, hosted by Ireland as part of its rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. The gathering brings together leaders from more than 45 countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Norway, and the Balkans, reflecting the EPC's role as an informal forum for continental dialogue.
Europe's demand for a seat at the table
Speaking alongside Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at a joint press conference on Wednesday evening, Zelenskyy stressed that Europe must be central to any negotiations shaping the continent's future security architecture. "This war is in Ukraine, and ending this war without Europe’s participation would be unjust, and it would be impossible," he said.
Zelenskyy urged European leaders to coalesce around a single representative for the continent in future talks. "We need to choose who (will) represent Europe, and it's important. We need to choose very concrete personalities, the leaders of Europe, who will represent Europe, and we need to do it in November, because we count that negotiations will continue," he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kushner told a press conference in Abu Dhabi that he would seek Putin's "blessing" for a direct European role in the talks. The US envoys' shuttle diplomacy has been intense, with Abu Dhabi talks yielding a prisoner swap deal but no ceasefire as they headed to Moscow.
Martin welcomed Zelenskyy warmly, praising the courage of the Ukrainian people and condemning Russia's continuing attacks. "It is barbarous, and it is vile, and I once again offer my heartfelt solidarity to the people of Ukraine and my undying admiration for your unwavering resolve, resilience, and bravery," he said.
Security concerns and protests in Dublin
Dublin is bracing for disruption following a series of security threats ahead of the summit. Hoax bomb threats were sent to hundreds of schools on Wednesday morning in Ireland, the UK, and Italy, following similar threats to airlines and media organisations. The Garda Síochána, Ireland's police force, say they are ready for "all eventualities."
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly told reporters on Tuesday: "We're ready for every eventuality, and I certainly think we are in relation to the equipment, the training, the people, our plans." A number of protests are planned along the route to Dublin's Convention Centre, where the EPC is taking place. Kelly said the force will "facilitate peaceful protest" but will act "swiftly" if any criminal activity is suspected. "We cannot have any situation where there's a disruption to any of the events themselves, to any of the delegates," he said.
Summit agenda and broader European context
The EPC, launched in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, provides a platform for European leaders to discuss strategic issues. This year's theme is "Europe – strong, secure and connected," focusing on strengthening competitiveness through energy security and connectivity. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is attending for the first time, alongside Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre and Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who will host the tenth EPC summit in Zurich in April 2027. An EU official told Euronews that Carney's presence "symbolises how close Canada wants to be in relation to security."
While migration is not a main agenda item, it will be discussed, with a joint statement expected from Italy, Denmark, and the UK, an EU official confirmed. The EPC summit precedes an informal gathering of EU leaders on Friday, which is expected to be tense after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent a strongly worded letter to European Council President António Costa about the lack of cohesion among European countries over the Ukraine war.
Meloni questioned who speaks for Europe on Ukraine and criticised efforts by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who held a 90-minute call with Putin last month. She told Costa that Europe appears "all over the place" on Ukraine and called for the issue to be a priority at Friday's summit. She pointed to previous meetings in Miami and upcoming talks by the Coalition of the Willing, saying the many voices and venues "undermine our credibility in handling one of the most complicated issues our nations are facing."
Zelenskyy is also expected to hold several bilateral meetings and attend plenary sessions, as well as a Friends of Ukraine event co-chaired by Martin and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The summit comes at a critical juncture, with Europe's week of diplomacy highlighting the continent's determination to shape its own security future.
