EU breaks diplomatic freeze with Kremlin as peace talks loom
Photo: The EU explained why the European Council president secretly contacted the Kremlin (Getty Images)
European Council President Antonio Costa reached out to the Kremlin to request the establishment of a communication channel. It marks the first such move by the European Union since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Politico.
A break from the EU's policy
Since 2022, the European Union has largely avoided direct negotiations with Russia. Costa's contacts with the Kremlin represent a departure from that approach.
According to an anonymous EU official, the contacts took place over the past few weeks. They were brief and did not concern the "substance" of the conflict.
"Therefore, it is important to have established diplomatic channels with Russia," the official said.
Politico notes that while individual EU leaders have maintained direct contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent months, and the ambassadors of France, the United Kingdom, and Germany met with Russia's deputy foreign minister in Moscow in early June, there have been no coordinated or official efforts backed by the European Union or a majority of EU capitals.
Why the EU is doing this
The official explained the reasoning behind the contacts, saying that the European Union has "specific interests that will need to be protected" in the context of any future negotiations.
At the same time, he stressed that the EU is "not a mediator" between Ukraine and Russia.
According to the official, Costa is "coordinating closely with European leaders on possible engagement with Russia and the issues to be discussed when the right moment comes."
The European Council officially declined to comment on reports of contacts with the Kremlin. Representatives of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the French government also declined to comment.
Why the issue has become relevant again
Discussion about Europe's role in potential peace talks intensified after a meeting in Cyprus last month.
During that meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged EU leaders to play a more active role in the negotiation process between Kyiv and Moscow.
As previously reported, Bloomberg was the first to reveal the contacts with Moscow.
According to the agency, a senior adviser to European Council President Antonio Costa held two phone conversations with a high-ranking Russian official who is part of Putin's inner circle.
RBC-Ukraine later learned the outcome of those contacts.
