The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, has advised the European Union against rushing into peace negotiations with Russia, asserting that the Kremlin currently shows no genuine interest in dialogue. His remarks were made during a European Council meeting in Brussels.
Nausėda emphasized the need for the EU to distance itself from attempts to engage Russian President Vladimir Putin in discussions about ending the ongoing conflict. He stated, “I do not think this is the right time to start negotiations with Putin, as he does not want to see us at the negotiating table.”
The Lithuanian leader called for European nations to first align their positions to avoid repeating past mistakes, where individual leaders acted independently. He believes that a genuine diplomatic process can only begin once Moscow acknowledges its defeat in the conflict.
“But first, Russia and its dictator must come to the conclusion that this war cannot be won and that the Russians are not winning,” Nausėda added.
Recent efforts by European leaders to establish dialogue with the Kremlin have included secret communications from European Council President Antonio Costa, who has reached out to Putin’s circle regarding Ukraine. This initiative aims to secure a place for the EU at the negotiating table, following similar overtures from the United States.
Additionally, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to propose a special EU envoy for the war in Ukraine at the upcoming summit. This envoy is likely to be appointed from a medium-sized country.
Despite these attempts, Western efforts have not yielded the desired results. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that leaders of the G7 and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed that Russia has shown little serious willingness to engage in negotiations, rendering previous dialogue efforts ineffective.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has cautioned the EU against initiating peace talks with Russia, citing the Kremlin's lack of interest in genuine dialogue. He emphasizes the need for a unified European stance and suggests that meaningful negotiations can only occur after Russia acknowledges its defeat in the ongoing conflict.
Source: RBK-Ukraine