The media have named three candidates for the role of EU negotiator with Russia
The European Union is discussing who to send as a mediator for potential negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Well-known European politicians, including Merkel, Draghi, and Stubb, are being mentioned as candidates. But the main problem isn’t the names; it’s that the EU itself has yet to agree on a unified position. This is according to Politico.
The European Union has begun serious discussions on who could represent the bloc in potential negotiations regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the list is quite impressive: options include former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, while the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, is also being considered separately.
The discussion is still far from a final decision, but it is already clear that each candidate has both strengths and political limitations that could influence the choice. Kaja Kallas, who heads the EU’s foreign policy service, previously strongly opposed any direct contacts with Russia, but later stated her willingness to discuss the appointment of a special envoy, and even told reporters: “I think I will be able to recognize the traps Russia is setting.”
However, according to European diplomats, it is precisely her hardline stance toward the Kremlin that could become an obstacle, as Moscow might immediately reject her candidacy; one of the publication’s sources stated outright: “Unfortunately, she has effectively ruled herself out as a candidate for this position.”
Angela Merkel is being discussed separately—as a politician with experience dealing with both Kyiv and Moscow—but some European politicians believe that her previous attempts to influence Russia were unsuccessful, and this could work against her. Alexander Stubb appears to be a compromise candidate thanks to his diplomatic experience, but his appointment would require broad support within the EU, and Finland’s NATO membership could complicate the Kremlin’s perception of his candidacy.
Mario Draghi, for his part, has a reputation as a technocrat with considerable authority in Europe; he is considered moderate and not aligned with extreme positions, though there are currently no public indications that he is at all interested in this role.
Less obvious options are also being mentioned in discussions—for example, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide or even Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who maintains contacts with both sides of the conflict.
At the same time, diplomats acknowledge that the main problem lies not so much in selecting a specific candidate as in the fact that EU countries cannot agree on a common position, and this, according to Politico, is the biggest obstacle to the emergence of a single European negotiator.
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