EU Council president explains to EU leaders why he reopened contact with Moscow
During discussions on Ukraine at the European Council summit in Brussels on 18 June, European Council President António Costa explained to EU leaders why he had initiated the resumption of diplomatic contacts with Russia.
Source: an EU official familiar with the discussion, speaking on condition of anonymity, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Costa explained to EU leaders how and why he had decided to re-establish contact with the Kremlin.
It should be noted that the discussion on Ukraine took place behind closed doors, with mobile phones prohibited in the meeting room.
According to the source, Costa confirmed that he had recently initiated brief diplomatic contact with the Kremlin.
The source said that the European Council president had instructed his office to open a diplomatic channel with Russia.
The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that, when the time comes, the EU will be ready to defend its interests.
The source noted that these were brief communications involving neither substantive exchanges of information nor negotiations.
The official added that diplomats were simply doing their job.
Background:
- European media outlets earlier revealed that Costa had established contact with the Kremlin in an attempt to involve Russian leader Vladimir Putin in discussions on ways to end the war in Ukraine.
- European countries have also discussed the idea of appointing a European envoy to join negotiations aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine, although the proposal has not gained significant momentum so far.
- Negotiations on the EU envoy and the preparation of European security guarantees are continuing in coordination between the E3 – the UK, France and Germany – and the president of Ukraine.
- Unofficial reports suggested that Germany, France and the UK were developing a plan to involve Putin in negotiations.
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