Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to tie Europe’s role in Ukraine talks to immediate security responsibilities. According to the Ukrainian presidential office, they discussed stronger air defences and missiles for protecting energy infrastructure in winter. Zelenskyy also said Europe should be fully involved in a process concerning the end of the war, security guarantees and the continent’s future.
That pairing gives the case for European representation practical force. European participation cannot be reduced to a symbolic seat when European governments may be asked to support air defence, help protect Ukraine’s energy system and take on commitments connected to security guarantees. Those asked to carry such responsibilities should help shape the decisions that define them.
The argument gained fresh relevance after Jared Kushner spoke to reporters in Dublin. Kushner said he and others had conveyed to Vladimir Putin that European participation was essential, and said Putin was prepared to try to bring Europe into the next round of talks on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. This is Kushner’s account of the exchange, rather than a public Russian commitment.
A broader format may make negotiations more difficult. Yet excluding Europe while discussing obligations that could rely on its military support and security role would create a different problem: decisions could be made for actors expected to implement them. Zelenskyy’s meeting with Meloni therefore sharpens the relevant test for the next round: Europe’s representation should match the responsibilities placed before it.
The supplied reports do not name the European states or institutions that would participate, their mandate, or the agenda and timing of a next round. They also report discussion of air-defence needs and missiles, not an Italian delivery decision or a timetable.
Sources
- Українська правда · Source date: 2026-11-13
- Українська правда · Source date: 2026-11-13
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-13