Von der Leyen aide Seibert represents EU at latest Ukraine peace talks, sources say
The European Commission is being represented at the latest Ukraine peace talks by Bjoern Seibert, chief of staff to Ursula von der Leyen, according to diplomatic sources. He is taking part alongside national security advisers from France, Germany, and the U.K. The EU has repeatedly struggled to agree on who should speak for the bloc in such negotiations, including earlier debates over a dedicated peace envoy.
The European Commission is sending Bjoern Seibert, Ursula von der Leyen’s chief of staff, to the Oct. 9 Ukraine peace talks, per diplomatic sources. He joins national security advisers from France, Germany, and the U.K. The Commission frames this as ongoing work to bolster Ukraine’s position and pursue peace, especially amid intensified Russian attacks.
The EU has long lacked a settled method for choosing a peace-talks representative. In 2026, proposals for a dedicated envoy sparked debate over whether top diplomat Kaja Kallas or a country-appointed figure should serve. A separate private channel to Moscow by Antonio Costa’s chief of staff, Pedro Lourtie, upset several states. Some also resisted E3 representation.
The choice of Seibert may affect how EU citizens and member states perceive the bloc’s unity and diplomatic weight. If national capitals feel sidelined, public trust in EU coordination could suffer. Ukrainians and allied officials may watch whether this ad hoc arrangement strengthens or complicates Europe’s ability to support Kyiv and pursue peace. The outcome could influence future debates about who speaks for the EU in crises.