Dublin summit: Zelensky warns Russia wants to rewrite Europe's security order, as the EU readies its 22nd sanctions package
Leaders from around 50 European countries gathered in Dublin on Thursday for the European Political Community summit, where Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia wants to rewrite Europe's security architecture ahead of any ceasefire and urged that Europe become a regular part of the peace negotiations. After meeting Zelensky, European Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Council on 26–27 November will discuss Ukraine's urgent financing needs for 2027, and that the Commission will present its 22nd package of sanctions against Russia in parallel.
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Key points
- Around 50 European leaders met in Dublin for the European Political Community summit, opened by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
- Zelensky warned Russia wants to rewrite Europe's security order, called the Abu Dhabi talks 'serious, not empty', and asked that Europe become a regular part of the negotiations.
- Costa and von der Leyen: the 26–27 November European Council will discuss Ukraine's 2027 financing needs, and the Commission will present its 22nd sanctions package in parallel.
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- Macron said there is 'no more US support' and Europe now carries Ukraine's support; who speaks for Europe at the peace table was left for Friday's EU Council.
Watch: the moment itself
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Video: FRANCE 24 English · Watch on YouTube
What happened
The Dublin summit came a day after two days of talks in Abu Dhabi between Ukrainian, Russian, US and European delegations ended with a large prisoner exchange and no breakthrough on ending the war. US negotiators Witkoff and Kushner went from Abu Dhabi to Moscow to brief President Putin, and then to Dublin to brief Zelensky on his response.
The European Political Community, created after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, brings EU and non-EU European leaders together in one room. Friday's informal EU Council meeting in Dublin takes up the two questions Thursday left open: Ukraine's 2027 financing and who represents Europe in the talks.
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- That the summit met in Dublin on Thursday, that Zelensky addressed its first plenary, and that Costa and von der Leyen issued their joint statement there.
- That the 26–27 November European Council will discuss Ukraine's 2027 financing needs, with the 22nd sanctions package to be presented in parallel.
- That Zelensky was due to meet Witkoff and Kushner in Dublin on Thursday evening after their Moscow talks with Putin.
What we don't know yet
- What President Putin told the US negotiators in Moscow, and what they in turn told Zelensky in Dublin.
- What the 22nd sanctions package will contain — it has been announced, not presented, and its final details are still being debated.
- Who, if anyone, will be named to speak for Europe in the peace negotiations — the question was deferred to Friday's EU Council.
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- Whether the remaining two EU accession clusters for Ukraine will open before the end of the year, as Zelensky asked.
Claim by claim
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Why this label: The gathering, its venue and its opening are reported by RTÉ from the summit and reflected in the European Council's own statement issued from Dublin.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: These are Zelensky's own words at the plenary, reported by RTÉ; what the talks will produce is a separate question, carried in the don't-know list.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The statement is the two presidents' own, published by the European Council; the sanctions package has been announced, not yet presented — its contents are in the don't-know list.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: Macron's words are verified as his statement; the claim about US support is his characterisation, and it is carried as such, not as a finding.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The three leaders' positions are as reported by RTÉ from the summit; no envoy decision was taken in Dublin.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: Zelensky's requests are his own words at the plenary; whether the clusters open this year is for EU governments to decide.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why it matters
Europe is being asked to do three things at once: fund Ukraine through another year of war, tighten sanctions for a 22nd time, and claim a seat at a peace table the US has so far run. What Dublin settled — the money discussion and the sanctions package now have dates — and what it did not — a European voice in the talks — decides how much of the settlement Europe will own.
Background
Ukraine, Russia, the US and European delegations hold two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, agreeing a large prisoner exchange and no breakthrough on ending the war.
The European Political Community summit meets in Dublin; Zelensky addresses the first plenary, and Costa and von der Leyen issue their joint statement.
A special European Council is due to discuss Ukraine's urgent financing needs for 2027, with the 22nd sanctions package presented in parallel.
Update history
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Published in Checking state — the summit's statements are on the record, and the envoy question, the sanctions package contents and the outcome of the Dublin meeting with the US negotiators are still to come.