Zelenskyy turns to Europe as U.S. role in Russia talks weakens
Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes the E3 format must be restored. (Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the United
Kingdom, France and Germany to revive the E3 format and use it to advance peace
talks, The
Telegraph reported on May 19.
Diplomatic sources told the outlet that Ukraine believes the
United States will no longer be an effective mediator in the negotiations, and
that Zelenskyy “sees potential” in reviving the E3 diplomatic format, which
brings together the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
Zelenskyy already raised the idea with French President
Emmanuel Macron during a phone call last week. According to the outlet’s
sources, Zelenskyy said he wanted the format to “carry more weight.”
An E3 source confirmed that talks are underway, but said no
concrete plan for direct negotiations with Russia has been agreed.
The Telegraph’s sources also said Ukrainian officials want a
European Union negotiator to stress that peace talks are “in the Kremlin’s
interests” because “Ukraine could ruin the Russians’ holiday season.”
Ukraine may see disrupted travel for Russians — and the
resulting pressure on trust in Russian dictator Vladimir Putin — as another way
to push him toward negotiations, the outlet reported.
The E3 format is an informal mechanism for diplomatic cooperation
between France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
It was created in 2003, primarily for talks with Iran over
its nuclear program. The three European countries served as key mediators
between Tehran, the United States and the UN Security Council.
Today, the E3 format is used more broadly, including to
coordinate positions on major international issues such as the Middle East,
security and sanctions.
Ukraine-Russia peace talks
After trilateral meetings in early 2026, talks in the
Ukraine-Russia-U.S. format stalled because of the war in Iran.
On May 7, National Security and Defense Council Secretary
Rustem Umerov met in the United States with U.S. representatives Witkoff and
Kushner. The same day, the Kremlin said it considered trilateral talks in the
U.S.-Ukraine-Russia format inappropriate until Ukraine withdraws its troops
from the part of Donbas it controls.
On May 9, Putin unexpectedly said the war in Ukraine was
“nearing its end.” Russia, however, resumed strikes on Ukraine immediately
after a three-day ceasefire ended on May 11.
On May 12, Trump said the end of the war in Ukraine was
“very close.” He planned to discuss the issue during a meeting with Chinese
leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
On May 13, the Kremlin repeated its ultimatum for Ukrainian
defense forces to withdraw from Donbas. Ukraine will never agree to that,
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said previously.
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