Zelenskyy: "The Russian boss is angry"
The Russian boss is angry and wants to continue his attacks, warns Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a European summit in Dublin.
The EU has pledged new sanctions against Russia and further economic support for Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy welcomes the fact that Europe is now involved in the talks that have been taking place with Russia in Abu Dhabi.
"We must ensure that Europe becomes a part of these discussions." It is not yet very direct—especially not with the Russians at the table—but the Europeans are nonetheless involved, he notes, speaking from the European summit in Dublin on Thursday.
At the same time, he expresses regret that Ukraine’s proposals for de-escalation have gained no traction in the talks.
“What our delegation heard was that the Russian boss is angry and wants to continue the attacks,” the president says.
**More EU sanctions**
Arriving at the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced another package of sanctions against Russia—the 22nd to date—as well as a plan for providing economic support to Ukraine through 2027, to be ready in time for the next EU summit in Brussels on November 26–27.
However, she avoided commenting on who should represent the EU in any potential talks with Russia—a question that has gained prominence in recent days and is set to be discussed when the EU’s heads of state and government meet in Dublin on Friday.
“I believe we have a natural representative. I support European Council President António Costa for such discussions,” said Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden as he arrived at the meeting.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, by contrast, downplayed the focus on specific individuals.
“It’s not about individuals. The important thing is that Putin is prepared to engage in talks,” Merz argued.
**Security architecture**
The question of a new, comprehensive security arrangement for Europe has also been a frequent topic of discussion lately, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and his son-in-law and negotiator, Jared Kushner. António Costa, chair of the European Council, noted at the summit that Europe once had a functioning security framework, but that it was first undermined and subsequently destroyed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Any future discussions on this subject must take that into account,” Costa said, referring to the 1975 Helsinki Declaration, which addresses the territorial integrity and equality of states, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the avoidance of threats and the use of force.
“These principles are just as relevant today . . . as they were 50 years ago,” Costa stated.
Facts
The EPC Summit in Dublin
The European Political Community (EPC) is a loosely structured organization that brings together all countries in Europe, with the exception of Russia, Belarus, and Vatican City.
Since the autumn of 2022, the heads of state and government of the participating nations have gathered for summits twice a year—alternating between EU member states and non-EU countries. The autumn summit will take place in Dublin, Ireland, while Zurich, Switzerland, will host the summit in the spring of 2027.
The summits consist of a joint panel discussion, followed by separate roundtable sessions in smaller groups covering various topics. The summits also frequently serve as an opportunity for bilateral meetings between the leaders of different countries.
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