Merkel is among the candidates for EU negotiations with Russia
The European Union is discussing the possible appointment of a special mediator for contacts with Russia, and Angela Merkel is among the leading candidates. Mario Draghi and Alexander Stubb are also being considered, but no final decision has been made yet due to disagreements among diplomats. This is according to Politico.
The European Union has revisited the idea of a mediator for potential contacts with the Kremlin, and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has unexpectedly made the list, having already sparked debate among European diplomats due to her prior experience in relations with Russia.
According to the publication, there is currently no agreed-upon candidate in Brussels, and discussions are ongoing regarding several figures who could represent the EU in potential negotiations with Moscow. Among the main options are Angela Merkel, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Each of them has a different political background and is perceived differently both in Europe and regarding potential contact with Russia.
Merkel is being considered primarily because of her many years of experience in negotiations and contacts with both Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the same time, some European politicians are critical of her candidacy, citing previous agreements with Russia and doubting the effectiveness of her potential role as a mediator.
The article also notes that Finnish President Alexander Stubb reportedly expressed interest in such a mission himself earlier, but his position is complicated by Finland’s NATO membership, which could affect how his candidacy is perceived in Moscow. Mario Draghi, for his part, is considered a more neutral figure in European politics, although he has not publicly confirmed his willingness to participate in negotiations.
Separately, Politico mentions EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, whom some officials also see as a potential candidate. She previously opposed direct contacts with Russia but later accepted the idea of an EU special envoy.
At the same time, it is her candidacy that raises the most doubts among some diplomats. As one of the publication’s sources noted, Kallas’s hardline stance on Russia could make her unacceptable to the Kremlin. “Unfortunately, she has effectively ruled herself out as a candidate for this position,” one diplomat told Politico.
Officials in Brussels emphasize that no final decision on a mediator has been made yet, and discussions are ongoing amid the EU’s complex internal stance on potential contacts with Moscow.
Recall that Merkel is being considered as a potential mediator in negotiations between the EU and Russia.
Berlin called theRussian Federation’s proposal regarding Schröder’s mediation a fiction.
