EU leaders to discuss Ukraine peace deal at summit today

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will attend the meeting on the fringe of today's EU-African Union summit in Luanda, Angola

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, European Council president Antonio Costa, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British prime minister Keir Starmer among world leaders at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr Martin will take part in today's EU meeting on the fringe of the EU-AU summit in Angola. Picture: Henry Nicholls/PA

European leaders will hold another emergency unplanned meeting in Angola today, Monday, to discuss the new US peace plan for Ukraine.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will attend the EU-African Union Summit in Luanda, Angola, the seventh summit between the heads of states and governments of the EU and the African Union (AU) and will mark 25 years of EU-AU partnership.

The summit will discuss efforts to advance peace and prosperity through multilateralism, as well as a working dinner of EU-AU leaders.

Ahead of the summit, the Taoiseach will attend an informal meeting of the European Council, convened by European Council president Antonio Costa, to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine.

It follows a hastily-arranged meeting on the outskirts of the G20 on Saturday by members of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ to discuss US president Donald Trump’s plan for peace in Ukraine.

Taoiseach: 'Just and lasting peace'

They stated afterwards that the plan would require work, with Mr Martin saying on Friday that any suggestion that Ukraine would have to cede parts of its land would not be acceptable.

“Peace in Ukraine must be a just and lasting peace,” the Taoiseach said. 

The EU will work closely with the US and Ukraine over the coming days with the aim of achieving this.

“The initial draft of the 28-point plan is a basis that will require additional work. 

"I, together with the EU, have been clear on the principle that internationally-recognised borders cannot be changed by force and in our steadfast support for Ukraine.”

Bilateral meetings in Angola 

The Taoiseach will also hold several one-to-one meetings with fellow leaders at the summit.

Mr Martin arrived in Angola on Sunday evening following a three-day trip to Johannesburg during which he attended the G20 leaders’ summit.

Speaking before his departure from South Africa, the Taoiseach said the conference was a “very effective and useful networking opportunity”.

“Ireland’s bona fides in respect of the issues, and our approach to the issues, is generally appreciated among countries from different backgrounds and different traditions,” he said.

“That is important in terms of Ireland’s global reputation and profile, and also then bilateral with countries that are important to Ireland as a nation.”