The President of the European Council Has Angered the Baltic States with His Talks with the Kremlin – Politico
European Council President António Costa has come under a wave of sharp criticism from a number of European Union member states after it was revealed that his team had been in secret contact with official representatives from Moscow. The Baltic states expressed the greatest outrage, having learned of these talks only through the press.
According to journalists, ’s team attempted to establish direct communication with Russia amid European discussions on possible paths to a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine, informing only Paris, London, and, presumably, Berlin of these efforts.
Costa
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal reacted particularly harshly to these actions. He categorically stated that the European Union has no right to assume the role of a neutral mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, as such a status would automatically limit the bloc’s ability to intensify sanctions pressure on Russia and to provide unconditional assistance to Ukraine. The Estonian leader also noted that the Kremlin continues to completely reject any options for a civilized diplomatic resolution to the conflict it has unleashed, and therefore behind-the-scenes talks conducted without the knowledge of most allies are unacceptable.
This incident has once again highlighted deep internal divisions and disputes within the EU over who exactly has the right to represent the European community in future negotiations:
The “Big Three” (France, the United Kingdom, and Germany): insist on their key and leading role in future diplomatic contacts with Russia.
Poland and Italy: are actively demanding the full involvement of their representatives in this process so as not to be sidelined in strategic decision-making.
The Baltic states: are demanding maximum transparency and condemning separate negotiations without consultation with all 27 member states of the bloc.
The publication’s sources emphasize that the controversy surrounding António Costa’s actions reflects a fundamental problem in Brussels. Despite a shared understanding that Europe’s voice must be heard during the final discussions on Ukraine’s future, there is currently no single, consolidated vision within the EU regarding the format and composition of such a delegation.
This is reported by Politico.
European Council President António Costa is attempting to establish a private channel of communication with the Kremlin to engage Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in discussions on the terms for ending the war in Ukraine. According to journalists, Costa’s chief adviser has already held two closed-door telephone conversations with a high-ranking Russian official from Putin’s inner circle. The purpose of these preliminary contacts is to test the waters and lay the groundwork for possible substantive negotiations in the future.
The EU explained why the President of the European Council had been secretly in contact with the Kremlin.
