EU Council head Costa reached out to Kremlin in negotiations push
Antonio Costa (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)
European Council President Antonio
Costa established contact with Kremlin officials to try and engage Russian
dictator Vladimir Putin in negotiating an end to the Russo–Ukrainian war,
Bloomberg reported
on June 17, citing sources.
Costa’s chief adviser held two phone calls with a senior Russian official close to Putin, according to the report. The conversations aimed to lay the groundwork for further, more substantive talks.
The European Council declined to comment on the contacts, and the Kremlin did not respond to requests for comment.
“Some EU countries have floated the idea of appointing a special envoy to negotiate with Moscow as the bloc seeks to play a role in securing peace between Ukraine and Russia,” Bloomberg writes.
“But the idea is controversial and fraught with risks — Putin has suggested former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder who has effectively been on the Kremlin’s payroll for decades through his work for Gazprom PJSC.”
Germany, France, and the UK are coordinating approaches on any potential effort to involve Putin in talks with Ukraine, the report added. European officials believe a window for diplomatic engagement could open amid Russian military setbacks, stepped-up Ukrainian strikes and mounting economic pressure.
One source told Bloomberg that senior European officials are
trying to align their approach as the war moves into a new phase and are
preparing for a moment when communications with the Kremlin may increase.
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