Costa's attempts to contact Kremlin expose deep European split over Moscow negotiations

The outlet emphasized that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the EU for attempting to open up communication with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, putting the leaders of Europe’s two largest countries on a collision course with a large part of the rest of the bloc.

In an unexpectedly contentious summit in Brussels, Merz and Macron rejected attempts by Costa, who acts on behalf of all 27 governments, to reach out to the Kremlin, Politico, citing five EU diplomats and officials familiar with the discussions, reported. Other leaders took Costa’s side.

This conflict revealed underlying tensions at the heart of the EU over its approach to Russia and who should speak for Europe.

Leaders from some of the most staunchly anti-Russia countries, as well as Denmark and the Netherlands, rallied behind Macron and Merz, three officials told Politico. Some even displayed unprecedented anger with the European Council president.

The discussions on Russia and Ukraine – which were held without aides or cellphones because of the sensitive nature of the matter, and which lasted two hours longer than planned – revealed the emergence of two main camps, Politico wrote.

Macron and Merz maintain the position that now is not the time to talk to Putin, and when that moment comes, E3 countries – France, Germany, and the U.K. – should take the initiative.

The other leaders – “a huge number” according to one EU official – maintained the opposite stance, saying that it was the EU’s role and supported Costa.

The June 18 summit revealed several fault lines, with some EU officials questioning why the European Council should take the role of representing the bloc while the European Commission and the EU’s foreign policy wing are already in place.

According to a European diplomat speaking on the condition of anonymity, Friedrich Merz conveyed to his fellow leaders that Costa should not act as a mediator. The diplomat added that Costa was “highly unprofessional” because he concealed the extent of his contact with Russia, which only became clear in media reports days later.

Several countries were “furious” about the attempts to establish communication with Moscow, according to one diplomat.

Several leaders learned about the calls only after they appeared in the media and were angry about it, three diplomats told Politico.

Costa’s team, on the other hand, said the contacts “had the mere objective of establishing a channel of communication in order to, when the moment comes, have a diplomatic channel with Russia to defend EU’s interests.”

One diplomat said that Costa’s cabinet informed Germany, France, the U.K., and the Commission before the phone calls took place. Three other diplomats, however, said Berlin had not been warned.

Bloomberg, citing sources, reported on June 17 that European Council President Antonio Costa established contact with Kremlin officials to try and engage Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

Costa’s chief adviser held two phone calls with a senior Russian official close to Putin.

António Costa told EU leaders during a European Council summit in Brussels on June 18 that resuming limited diplomatic contacts with Russia is necessary, in his view, to keep a communication channel open and protect the European Union’s future interests, European Pravda reported, citing an EU official familiar with the discussion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on June 9 at a press conference with Nordic and Baltic leaders in Tallinn that Europe could participate in potential negotiations with Russia in various formats, including the E3 (the U.K., Germany, and France) and the EU.

"Who will represent the face of Europe? I think this is very important,” the president said. “It could be different formats: E3, EU. Yes, we understand that E3 is a good option, but I think it depends on Europe.”