Talk of a new European security order distracts from Ukraine, Latvian PM says in Dublin

More than 50 national leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for a meeting of the European Political Community. It is chaired by António Costa, President of the European Council, and Micheál Martin, the Irish Taoiseach, or prime minister. Latvia is represented by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List. The leaders of the EU’s 27 member states will hold an informal meeting in Dublin on Friday, 13 November.

What is on the table

The format was set up four years ago on the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. This time the leaders are discussing European competitiveness, security and further support for Ukraine, and agreeing declarations, including one on fighting drug trafficking. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is attending as a guest, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is also there. More than 5,000 police officers are on duty in Dublin, with security cordons around the conference centre and traffic restrictions in place.

Zelensky urges caution

Opening the meeting, Zelensky said the talks in Abu Dhabi had not been empty and that Europeans were already indirectly involved. But he warned that in its talks with the United States, Russia wanted to redraw Europe’s security system. “When the US and Russia talk about it, they don’t just mean security guarantees for Ukraine. In fact it is more about a kind of new security system between Europe and Russia,” Zelensky said, according to LSM, the Latvian public broadcaster.

“An unnecessary manoeuvre”

Kulbergs said talk of a broader European security arrangement only distracted leaders. “Personally, I think it is a way of drawing attention away from the question of how we need to support Ukraine and occupying our minds with an unnecessary manoeuvre,” he said. Russia wanted Europe to help Ukraine less and to use this winter for its own ends, the prime minister said. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, takes a similar line: a ceasefire must come first, then a peace treaty, and only after that talks on other issues.

Who speaks for Europe

Leaders disagree over who should represent Europe in talks with Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Some countries want Germany, France and Britain to take the lead together with Italy, while others back Costa. Kulbergs said Costa was already the official representative and that any other choice would need everyone’s agreement and a political mandate. “For us not to be at the table and for this to be settled without us is unacceptable,” the Latvian prime minister said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the issue would be discussed behind closed doors. No formal decision on a European envoy will be taken in Dublin.