Ukraine talks: Meloni criticises EU disarray

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged European Union leaders to decide who speaks for the bloc in Ukraine negotiations, criticising what she called Europe's “disorderly” approach in a letter to European Council chief Antonio Costa.

In the letter seen by AFP on Thursday, Meloni complained about the number of recent meetings in different formats on Russia's war in Ukraine. She cited talks in Miami and Oslo, meetings this week in Brussels involving representatives of Ukraine, the United States, several European countries, NATO and the EU, and a call between the leaders of Norway and Finland and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meloni said EU leaders should decide “once and for all who sits at the negotiating table on behalf of the European Union, and with what mandate.” She said she was not requesting a role for herself or for Italy.

She asked for the issue to be discussed at a summit of EU leaders in Dublin this month and for a formal decision at a second meeting in December.

Costa replied that he agreed Europe needed to act with “coherence, unity and determination,” according to a letter shared by his office. He said EU participation should be organised so it can convey a clear and unified message, defend its interests and support Ukraine.

Costa also said the EU's interests needed to be represented by its institutions under the bloc's treaties and that he would include the issue at the next meeting of EU leaders.

Europe has been seeking a larger role in US-led efforts to stop the fighting in Ukraine. Washington has revived its push in recent weeks and is due to meet Russian and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi next week.