US and Ukraine favor Britain, France and Germany for potential peace talks, but Europe remains divided - FT
The United States and Ukraine see Britain, France and Germany - known as the E3 - as the most likely group to represent Europe in potential negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, European governments remain divided over the proposal and fear being excluded from talks altogether, the Financial Times reported, citing four European diplomats.
According to one diplomat, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, agreed with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv last month that the E3 would serve as a vehicle for European representation.
But the arrangement has yet to win broader European support. Smaller countries are concerned that the continent’s three major powers could end up speaking on behalf of everyone else.
European officials also worry that Washington and Moscow could reach agreements affecting European security without involving European governments. Potential issues include security guarantees for Russia that could restrict NATO, sanctions relief and Ukraine’s future relationship with the European Union.
The concerns have intensified as Trump has increased pressure on Kyiv to reach a deal with Moscow, while easing sanctions on Russia and raising the prospect of renewed US-Russian business ties.
The FT reported that recent efforts by the leaders of Norway and Finland to engage Russian President Vladimir Putin without securing EU backing had exposed further divisions. Denmark, Italy and Lithuania were among the countries that criticized the initiative.
A senior European diplomat told the FT that securing a seat at the negotiating table should come before deciding who would represent Europe.
The E3 remains the preferred working format for now, according to another diplomat, but EU institutions would eventually need to participate in substantive negotiations involving sanctions and Ukraine’s EU membership.
The report comes ahead of planned US-Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi. Moscow has opposed European participation in the trilateral format.
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