The EU will discuss potential negotiators with Russia at a meeting of foreign ministers – FT
EU foreign ministers will discuss next week the candidates for potential negotiators with Russia regarding a possible peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
According to the Financial Times, the discussion will take place during a meeting in Cyprus and will focus on the merits of various candidates who could represent the EU’s position in dialogue with Moscow.
The FT notes that the EU is discussing whether former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi or former German Chancellor Angela Merkel could represent them in potential negotiations with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
According to the publication’s sources, in addition to Draghi and Merkel, the governments of other countries have proposed Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his predecessor Sauli Niinistö as possible candidates.
Discussions in Cyprus will take place after Washington and Kyiv expressed support for Europe establishing a dialogue with the Russian leader regarding the war in Ukraine, sources familiar with the discussions said.
The Donald Trump administration, currently preoccupied with its own war in the Middle East, has told its EU counterparts that it does not object to Europe negotiating with Putin in parallel with U.S.-led peace talks, three of these individuals noted.
“They know it doesn’t work,” one of them said, referring to existing efforts to end the conflict.
Discussions on this issue between capitals are taking place at various levels, a source familiar with the talks said, and there is a possibility of formal discussions among EU leaders at the summit in June.
A senior Ukrainian official noted that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would like the European side in negotiations with Russia to be led by “someone like Draghi” or a “strong, effective (state) leader.”
According to him, Zelenskyy is expected to discuss this issue with the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom later this week.
Sources also note that Draghi is considered a reliable figure and is respected throughout the EU, and his technocratic experience could be well-suited to this situation.
One European official noted that although Niinistö “is one of the few Europeans who has a working relationship with Putin… the Russians are currently very dissatisfied with Finland.”
“I think it should be someone from countries like the Netherlands or Portugal, which don’t have the baggage that countries in the east have,” he added.
At the meeting, EU foreign ministers will also discuss what Europe will demand in post-conflict relations with Russia, what red lines they have regarding a potential settlement in Ukraine, and what their preconditions will be for starting any negotiations with the Kremlin, the sources added.
Some governments are concerned about the discussion itself and fear that it will only highlight divisions within the EU regarding Ukraine and Russia.
Earlier, Tusk statedthat a Russian attack on NATO could happen in just a few months — FT.
As a reminder, Macronarrived in Poland for talks with Tusk.
