
EUROPE FORMS JOINT UKRAINE PEACE TEAM AS U.S.-LED TALKS EXPAND AND RUSSIA-UKRAINE STRIKES INTENSIFY
European leaders have agreed that EU institutions and the E5 countries of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom will jointly represent Europe in future negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. António Costa announced the arrangement after an informal summit in Dublin, arguing that Europe must speak with one coordinated voice as U.S.-led talks broaden to include future European security arrangements. The diplomatic move came amid major military escalation, with Russia claiming it intercepted 1,198 Ukrainian drones during a massive overnight attack while Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia injured 50 people, including eight children.