During a recent European Council summit in Brussels, EU leaders were unable to agree on who should represent the bloc in potential negotiations with Russia regarding the conclusion of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten emphasized that the discussion about whether a man or woman would lead the EU’s negotiations with Russia is not a priority. He stated, “We had a very constructive and open conversation. It is clear that Ukrainians are currently winning this war, and we must support them in every possible way. That is why I decided this week to allocate an additional 500 million for supporting the Ukrainian armed forces.”
Jetten noted that increasing sanctions and intensifying pressure on President Putin are essential to compel Russia to engage in talks. He remarked, “As soon as he is ready for negotiations, Ukraine will also be prepared, and then we, as Europeans, will stand side by side. It is evident that Putin is not ready to negotiate a fair peace agreement… Once there is a willingness to negotiate, the EU will also be ready to discuss security guarantees and future relations with Russia. We will not dispute who—man or woman—will lead the negotiations on behalf of the EU. I am completely confident of that after yesterday’s very constructive discussion.”
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever jokingly suggested to European Council President António Costa that he should be the sole negotiator sent to Moscow. This exchange occurred late on June 19, following the first day of the EU summit, as De Wever spoke with reporters while Costa walked by.
The dialogue included De Wever saying, “We were just talking about you, António!” to which Costa replied, “What are you saying about me?” De Wever responded, “Only praise! We say you are the only one who can represent us!” Costa thanked him, and De Wever added, “And we will send you to Moscow as soon as possible!”
De Wever expressed his belief that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants major EU countries and the United Kingdom to represent Europe in negotiations, as this would strengthen his position. He stated, “I spoke with Zelensky during bilateral talks, and I believe he also wants major European countries, as well as the UK, which is outside the EU, to join him in representing the European position at the negotiation table, as it strengthens his position.”
He pointed out that while the E-3 format (UK, France, Germany) is a reasonable framework within the Coalition of the Willing, only official EU institutions can represent the bloc. “If we talk about the powers of the European Union, only EU institutions can represent it. There is no consensus on sending anyone else to Moscow to negotiate on behalf of the EU,” he added, noting that Russia currently shows no willingness to engage in talks.
De Wever remarked, “I do not think many colleagues believe that Putin is ready to start serious negotiations for a real resolution to the problem, a sustainable peace that would be acceptable for Ukraine and Europe today. So, let’s see how events unfold.”
Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker mentioned that there was no criticism directed at President Costa for tasking his office with opening a diplomatic channel with Russia. He explained, “Yesterday, it was discussed that since negotiations are stalled because Russia is not ready, now is not the time to start them. It is good to be prepared and have established communication channels for when the appropriate moment arises. There was no criticism of Costa, as it is about having channels of communication and being prepared for when negotiations begin, so the EU can protect its interests during those talks.”
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš indicated that the discussion regarding the EU’s representative in negotiations with Russia is ongoing. He noted, “The Council could not agree at all; Meloni, in my opinion, is a great leader who speaks to the point and has rational proposals, and we have almost identical views on everything. There was criticism that Costa has already established some contacts.”
Babiš explained that opinions among leaders were divided, with some asserting that negotiations should only be led by Zelensky, while others disagreed, stating that Europe should take the lead. He quoted another leader saying, “I do not want anyone to negotiate on our behalf. The essence of the discussion is that today this Council is not capable of agreeing even on whether there will be negotiations or who will lead them. So, it’s a long discussion with no results.”
He also noted that the situation has changed, as President Donald Trump is now aligned with Europe. Babiš stated, “If a new situation arises and the US forces Putin to end this aggression, that would change things. Before this information emerged, I was more inclined to support what Meloni says—that Europe should determine the course. If some leaders, like Merz, do not want to negotiate, then let Meloni, the rational Belgian Prime Minister, and António Costa lead the negotiations.”
According to RMF24, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk asserted that Warsaw must be included in any potential European contacts with Russia. Tusk emphasized that it would be unacceptable for security matters to be resolved by the largest European countries without Poland’s involvement. A Polish diplomat stated, “Poland will not feel bound by decisions made in formats where it is not represented—such as E-3 (UK, France, Germany). If France and Germany insisted that they should negotiate within such a format, Poland would not consider that an acceptable decision.”
On June 19, President Costa informed EU leaders that he had instructed his office to open a diplomatic channel with Russia, stating that this was necessary to “be prepared to protect the EU’s interests when the appropriate moment arises.”
EU leaders were unable to reach an agreement on representation for potential negotiations with Russia regarding the Ukraine war during a summit in Brussels. Discussions highlighted differing opinions on who should lead the talks, with emphasis on the need for a unified European stance.