Norway proposes that Europe take on 'different role' instead of engaging in dialogue with Russia

According to Espen Barth Eide, European allies cannot combine ongoing support for Kyiv with the role of mediator in a new peace process. He stressed that Europe should play a different role from the one Donald Trump attempted to perform as a supposedly neutral mediator.

"There are two different roles one could envisage. One is the voice of Europe in these talks; this is a good idea. The other one is an alternative mediator, I think this is less of a good idea," the minister said.

He explained his position using a comparison.

"Being a supporter of Ukraine is a good and heroic role. A mediator can also be a heroic role, but it’s a different role. It’s like the lawyer and the judge. There is nothing wrong with the judge but they can’t also be a lawyer for one side," Barth Eide noted.

In his view, a mediator should not be a Western politician, but someone who maintains distance from both sides. He refused to name his own candidate.

Call to double support

Barth Eide emphasized that Ukraine’s current successes on the battlefield are not a reason to scale back assistance.

"You know this is exactly the right moment to double down on support and making sure not only in quantity but also in quality," he said.

According to him, Kyiv’s advantage on the battlefield is also confirmed by independent observers.

"What our Ukrainian colleagues now are saying quite convincingly, and is backed up by what we independently see, is that yes, there’s a slight battlefield advantage and the Russian onslaught has been checked," the minister stated.

Context of the EU debate

Barth Eide made the statement amid discussions in the EU about appointing its own negotiator for direct talks with Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supported the idea that Europe should seek ways to restore peace negotiations.

Previously, talks between Kyiv and Moscow on a ceasefire took place with mediation by Trump, but both sides grew disillusioned with his efforts after he shifted his attention to the Middle East.

This pushed the EU and European allies to begin their own discussions.

Among unofficially discussed candidates for negotiator were former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, but member states failed to agree on their mandate.

Putin, in turn, proposed his long-time acquaintance, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, but the idea was rejected by European capitals and Kyiv.

Although Norway is not a member of the EU, its voice carries weight: the country has provided Ukraine with more than €6 billion in military aid — more than France, Italy, and Spain combined. Oslo also has experience in mediation, including helping to end the civil war in Colombia.

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that the EU had begun discussing a candidate for a negotiator for direct talks with Putin.

Among the names mentioned were former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

It later became known that the EU would not appoint a negotiator for now, as some countries believe Putin is not serious about a ceasefire and that appointing a mediator could weaken sanctions pressure. Merkel herself indicated that she does not consider herself a suitable candidate.