European Union and Five Nations Form E5 Group for Ukraine Peace Negotiations

The European Union and five European nations have established a coordinated E5 group to manage future peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine. This group consists of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Poland. European Council President Antonio Costa announced the decision following an informal summit of European Union leaders held in Dublin on November 13-14, 2026.

Unified European Security Goals

The E5 group aims to ensure a unified European voice during discussions concerning the sovereignty of Ukraine, regional security, and the continental security architecture. European Council President Antonio Costa stated that European security begins with the security of Ukraine and emphasized that Europe must speak with one clear, unified voice. This coordinated approach follows previous diplomatic efforts where Germany, France, and the United Kingdom played leading roles in regional diplomacy.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas noted that Europeans cannot send anyone they want to negotiations as the Americans do. French President Emmanuel Macron added that without Europeans, there is no support for Ukraine and stated that Europeans will decide their own future security. The formation of the E5 group represents an expansion of previous European diplomatic efforts that were primarily led by Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

Upcoming Negotiation Framework

The E5 group will participate at a technical level in upcoming negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany will definitely be present at the negotiations. These discussions are expected to take place within the coming weeks, according to Chancellor Merz.

The inclusion of the E5 group in the diplomatic process follows a trilateral meeting between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States that was held earlier this week in Abu Dhabi. This meeting occurred nine months after the first Russia-Ukraine negotiations were held in Abu Dhabi.

Conflicting Diplomatic Reports

While European leaders have announced the formation of the new group, the Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed disagreement regarding the inclusion of European parties. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the ministry has no knowledge of an agreement to include European countries in the negotiations. This statement contradicts the recent announcement made by the European Union and its member states regarding the coordinated E5 group.

Glossary

• European Union — The European Union is a political entity where transparency is a fundamental value. It grants citizens and residents the freedom of information, allowing them access to documents from the European Commission, European Parliament, and European Council.
• Russian Foreign Ministry — The Russian Foreign Ministry is a government body involved in formulating Russia's foreign policy. It has historically been a dominant force in policy formulation, though it has sometimes faced gaps between its statements and the actions of the Russian military.