EU split emerges as Britain rejects talks with Putin
Photo: Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
The UK has rejected a proposal from France and Italy to resume talks with Moscow under the leadership of Russian president Vladimir Putin, according to the country’s foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, reports Politico.
Cooper emphasized that Russia has so far shown no interest in peace.
“I think what we need is evidence that Putin actually wants peace and at the moment, I’m still not seeing that,” she said.
In this way, she dismissed proposals from Paris and Rome that European allies should consider resuming diplomatic relations with Putin as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The head of the UK foreign office believes that in the absence of evidence of readiness for peace, pressure on Moscow should be increased — through sanctions and military support — rather than eased.
“I think we’ve still got to be ready alongside this really important work to put increased pressure, economic pressure, and also through the military support to Ukraine, that military pressure on Russia as well,” she said.
According to Cooper, at this point, the diplomatic center of gravity lies in Ukraine and the countries that are Kyiv’s closest allies.
“What we’ve seen is the huge commitment to work being done by Ukraine, with the U.S. and supported by Europe to draw up plans for peace including security guarantees. But so far, I don’t see the evidence that Putin is yet willing to come to the table, or yet willing to have discussions,” she added.
These comments were made amid concerns in Brussels that the EU could be sidelined if Washington takes the lead in any future negotiations with Moscow.
These concerns have already prompted the EU to take steps to strengthen its influence, including plans to create the post of an EU special envoy to ensure the Union has a seat at the negotiating table.
Background
French president Emmanuel Macron said in December 2025 that it would be useful for Europe to resume dialogue with Putin.
“Either a lasting peace is reached or we find ways for Europeans to re-engage in a dialog with Russia — in transparency and association with Ukraine. It will become useful again to speak to Vladimir Putin,” Macron said.
The Kremlin, however, described Macron’s desire to speak with Putin as “a public relations ploy.” This was stated, in particular, by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.
At the beginning of 2026, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said that it was time for Europe to begin negotiations with Russia, but that a position common to all countries needed to be developed first.
More recently, Macron said he does not rule out the possibility of contact with the Russian president — this could happen “in the coming weeks.”
