Irish PM comments on number of European negotiators in talks with Russia

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that Europe does not necessarily need to have a single representative at potential negotiations with Russia.

Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU and is hosting the summit.

"That [the issue of Europe's representation at the negotiations] will probably be discussed in the margins, but it'll be more formally discussed tomorrow at the informal EU Council meeting during the lunch period," Micheál Martin said ahead of the European Political Community summit in Dublin.

However, Martin does not believe that Europe necessarily needs a single representative.

"It's not necessarily one person, but there should be a clear coherent leadership from the European Union at that table. There are some obvious candidates there – I'm not going to speculate on those other than to say that there is clearly a need for a coherent voice agreed by the EU 27 as to who represents the European Union at those talks," he added. 

Estonia believes that European Council President António Costa and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas could represent Europe in the negotiations to settle the war in Ukraine, as EU leaders are unable to reach an agreement on who should take a seat at the negotiating table.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has demanded that the EU discuss who should represent it in the negotiations regarding Russia's war in Ukraine and with what mandate.