European leaders ask Trump 'not to create surprises' and define representatives in negotiations on Ukraine
Summit in Dublin defines group of countries to conduct conversations; Merz asks Trump to avoid surprises in talks with Putin
Quick Look
- European leaders meeting in Dublin agreed that Germany, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, together with EU institutions, will represent the bloc in negotiations with the United States, Russia and Ukraine.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked Donald Trump to avoid surprises in talks with Vladimir Putin.
- The meeting comes a day after Trump's envoys met with Putin in Moscow, where the Russian president reportedly viewed positively a temporary ceasefire in Olenshky and proposed a new truce in Kostyantynivka.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
European leaders met at a summit in Dublin on Friday, November 13, 2026, to define joint representation in negotiations with the United States, Russia and Ukraine over the war in Ukraine. The meeting took place a day after Donald Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin reportedly viewed positively a temporary ceasefire in Olenshky and proposed a new truce in Kostyantynivka, eastern Ukraine, while criticizing the presence of foreign troops on Ukrainian territory.
European leaders, meeting at a summit in Dublin this Friday (13), agreed that a group of specific countries and the European Union will represent them in negotiations with the United States, Russia and Ukraine.
According to sources from the Reuters news agency, the group that will lead the negotiations is made up of Germany, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, in addition to EU institutions.
During the meeting in Ireland, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked US President Donald Trump not to create surprises during talks with Valdimir Putin.
"Some here in Dublin fear this could turn into a 'second Anchorage moment,'" Merz said.
"So I want to make our message to the United States very clear: please, no surprises. Continue playing as part of 'Team Europe' and 'Team Ukraine'," he said.
EU envoys pose for a photo on the day of a meeting on artificial intelligence in Dublin, Ireland, on November 13, 2026. — Photo: Reuters
Trump envoys meet with Putin in Moscow
The meeting of European leaders takes place one day after the visit of Donald Trump's envoys to Moscow, Russia.
Last Thursday (12), Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, respectively US special envoy and Trump's son-in-law, spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine.
During the meeting, Putin reportedly viewed the temporary ceasefire in Olenshky positively. Therefore, he proposed a new truce experiment, this time in Kostyantynivka, in eastern Ukraine.
To the local press, the Russian stated that he was never opposed to the end of the conflict and that he "would like peace in Ukraine to last forever".
Even so, the head of the Kremlin criticized the presence of foreign troops on Ukrainian territory, which he classified as "unacceptable", reinforcing that they are a "legitimate target" for Russia.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Negotiations between the European group, the United States, Russia and Ukraine will take place in the coming weeks.
Likely · Within weeks
Putin may move forward with a new temporary truce in Kostyantynivka.
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What are the specific terms of the new truce proposed by Putin in Kostyantynivka?
- What will be the date and place of negotiations between the European group, the United States, Russia and Ukraine?
- What are the specific positions of each country in the group (Germany, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom) on the negotiations?
- How did Ukraine react to the truce proposal and the participation of foreign troops as legitimate targets?
