EU leaders are preparing their own initiative for negotiations with Putin - FT
Kyiv • UNN
António Costa is preparing the EU for negotiations with the RF due to frustration with Donald Trump's actions. Zelenskyy supports coordination to increase pressure on Moscow.
European Union leaders are preparing for potential negotiations with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, as frustration grows in Europe over the Ukraine war termination talks led by US President Donald Trump. This was reported by the Financial Times, according to UNN.
Details
It is noted that the President of the European Council, António Costa, believes the EU has the potential for negotiations with the Russian Federation. Furthermore, according to him, such an initiative is supported by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"I am speaking with the 27 EU national leaders to find the best way to organize ourselves and define what we need to effectively discuss with Russia when the right moment comes,"
At the same time, according to him, the Kremlin currently shows no intention of engaging in serious negotiations. There is also no consensus within the European Union itself: while some leaders support creating a communication channel with Moscow, the bloc has not yet decided who exactly should speak on behalf of all Europeans and what the specific proposal to Putin should be.
The Office of the President of Ukraine confirmed the discussions with Costa.
"We need greater coordination at the European level," said an unnamed high-ranking Ukrainian official, adding that this could happen with the participation of a single leader who could speak with Russia on behalf of Europeans to increase pressure on Moscow.
Context
Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov stated that there is currently no point in a new round of negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the US, and that the condition for progress in negotiations with Ukraine is the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the head of the Ukrainian delegation at the peace talks, NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov, will hold a series of meetings with representatives of the US President today.