Kremlin swears over European role in Ukraine peace negotiations
Photo: Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov (Getty Images)
France proposed that Russia involve Europe in peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. Moscow responded with expletives, according to the Financial Times.
In February, French presidential national security advisers Emmanuel Bonne and Bertrand Buchwalter visited Moscow for talks with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Sources told FT that the French officials insisted that Moscow agree to allow Europeans a seat at the negotiation table.
"The Russian response from Ushakov was basically: 'Sorry, actually, no we don’t, f*** you,'" said a senior European diplomat.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told FT that "the Europeans don't want to help the peace process," and when the French representative arrived, he "didn't bring any positive signals. And so there was indeed nothing positive for him to hear."
Europe wants to join peace talks
Europe has started discussing "restoring contacts with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin." French President Emmanuel Macron, in particular, suggested the possibility of contact "in the coming weeks."
Following this, Macron's top diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne visited Moscow for confidential meetings with Russian officials.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also stated that the EU is always ready to negotiate with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, but he rejected the idea of "parallel communication channels."
European leaders want to join Ukraine, the US, and Russia in peace talks. Kyiv supports the idea, while Moscow is strongly opposed.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has said that Europe should participate in peace talks over Ukraine, since it funds a large part of the country's defense against Russia.
Additionally, it was reported today that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico seeks to have EU member states grant the EU a mandate to initiate negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
