Who Should Negotiate with Putin?
Costa’s outreach to Moscow drew criticism from leaders who said the EU should keep pressure on Russia and that Putin is not ready for serious talks.
- On Friday, European Council President Antonio Costa's diplomatic overture to the Kremlin exposed divisions at a Brussels summit over how the EU should handle relations with Russia as the war in Ukraine continues.
- The initiative drew criticism late Thursday because it was not coordinated with member states; senior EU diplomats learned of the move via media reports rather than from Costa's office.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed skepticism, while Nordic and Baltic countries were most disturbed by the uncoordinated move according to officials.
- Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin defended the move, stating "Opening up a channel is not a mistake in our view," though other leaders signaled debate over a European negotiator remains premature.
- Merz, Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have discussed Russia within the "E3" format, a practice that has annoyed other leaders like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who remain excluded.
18 Articles
18 Articles
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz during the EU summit criticized attempts by European Council President Antonio Cash to establish diplomatic contacts with the Kremlin.
European leaders are divided in their reaction to the initiative by European Council President Antonio Costa to establish diplomatic contacts with Russia. Officially, there is little criticism, but in German government circles, it is being referred to as an “affront”. French President Emmanuel Macron is also reportedly dissatisfied.
At the European Council, it was the question of who should strive for Russian diplomacy. Costa wants it to be. Merz, Macron and Starmer, too.
The leaders of France and Germany have criticized the European Union for trying to build relations with the Kremlin without consulting member states, Politico reported. According to Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, diplomacy with Putin should be coordinated by national leaders, not by officials in Brussels.
EU President António Costa did not inform Prime Minister Rob Jetten and his colleagues in advance that he was going to make contact with Russia this week, Jetten said ahead of the EU summit in Brussels. "I think it is very sensible that all actions initiated here from Brussels are also properly coordinated with the member states in advance," said the Prime Minister regarding the brief contact Costa made with the Kremlin.
Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz criticized the EU for initiating a dialogue with Vladimir Putin, which put the leaders of the two largest countries in Europe on a collision path with much of the rest of the bloc, writes Politico.
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- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources lean Right
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