FT: EU leaders preparing for possible talks with Russia on ending war in Ukraine

EU leaders are preparing for potential negotiations with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin on ending the war in Ukraine as European capitals grow increasingly frustrated with the talks led by US President Donald Trump.

Source: Financial Times, as reported by European Pravda

Details: European Council President António Costa has said he believes the EU has the "potential" to negotiate with Putin and the support of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for such dialogue.

"I'm talking with the [EU's] 27 national leaders to see the best way to organise ourselves and to identify what we need effectively to discuss with Russia when it comes the right moment to do this," Costa said.

According to Costa, at the EU leaders' summit in Cyprus last month, Zelenskyy invited Europeans to "be prepared to contribute positively for negotiation". At the same time, Costa noted that Moscow is not yet showing any signs of being ready for meaningful negotiations.

Zelenskyy's office confirmed the discussions with Costa.

"We need more co-ordination on the European level," a senior Ukrainian official said, adding that this could happen with the involvement of a single leader who could speak with Russia on behalf of Europeans in order to increase pressure on Moscow.

Some EU leaders, including Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, have raised the question of opening a channel for negotiations with the Kremlin.

However, there is no consensus among the 27 member states on who should be appointed to represent the EU in such negotiations, when they should begin, or what the proposal to Putin should be.

Background:

• Estonian President Alar Karis recently stated that European countries should already be planning their actions for the period after the Russo-Ukrainian war is over and their model for dealing with Russia, as this could happen quickly and unexpectedly.
• Earlier this year, Karis and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa called for an EU special envoy to be appointed for talks with Russia.
• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that European countries should not beg Russia to enter into negotiations on ending the war. Instead, they should put Moscow in a position where it moves towards genuine dialogue.

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