EU leaders choose team for Ukraine peace talks after months of wavering

European Union leaders are gathering in Dublin to decide who will represent the bloc in upcoming peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. The move comes after months of internal debate and pressure to ensure Europe is not sidelined in negotiations involving the US and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that European representatives will participate directly in the next round of discussions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been a vocal advocate for a streamlined approach, calling for a clear mandate for those representing European interests. Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa is being viewed by many leaders as the natural choice to lead the delegation, given his reputation as a broker. The summit, originally intended to focus on artificial intelligence, has been dominated by the urgent need to define Europe's role in the peace process.