Zelenskyy speaks about European representative at possible talks with Russia
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Europe should not take a neutral position in negotiations on the war, as Russia is the aggressor. At the same time, Ukraine will not agree to any decisions made without its participation, according to a statement by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference with the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries.
According to the head of state, Europe cannot be merely a mediator between Ukraine and Russia, as it supports Ukraine and shares its position.
"Europe has to be during any kind of negotiations. Europe can't just mediate to my mind because Europe stands on our side," the president stressed.
Zelenskyy explained that the status of a mediator would force European countries to take a neutral stance, particularly when making decisions on sanctions against Russia.
"Let's be fair, open, and very clear to each of us and also to Russians, they have to know there is no just mediators, because he's aggressor, Putin and Russia. That's why Europe has power to stop him," he added.
The head of state noted that European partners themselves should determine who will represent Europe in possible negotiations. Among the options, he mentioned the E3 format, which includes Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
In Zelenskyy’s view, this approach looks better than previous negotiation models.
"We don’t need to repeat the Minsk agreements, etc. I think the E3 is better than other formats that were in the past," he said.
The president separately stressed that Ukraine is ready to see the United States in any negotiation format, as future security guarantees must come from both Europe and the US.
"We will be happy to see, of course, the American team," he emphasized.
At the same time, Zelenskyy firmly rejected any possibility of decisions about Ukraine being made without its participation.
"We will not accept such an idea: negotiations without us when war on our territory, when mostly Ukrainian losses. So, nothing about us without us," the head of state concluded.
Which EU negotiator candidates were previously considered
Earlier, Politico reported that the EU was discussing the possibility of appointing a special representative for talks with Russia.
Among the potential candidates were European Council President António Costa, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, former ECB President Mario Draghi, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, and former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
The name of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was also mentioned, but she signaled she did not consider herself a suitable candidate.
Meanwhile, the candidate proposed by Putin — former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder — was publicly rejected in Berlin and Brussels.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also directly called Schröder a "well-known lobbyist for Russian companies."
