Brussels: Door open for direct Putin talks but 'not there yet'

WISE NEWS PRESS / BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

The European Commission has articulated its most explicit stance yet regarding the possibility of entering direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, while simultaneously emphasizing that Moscow’s relentless bombardment campaign currently renders such a step impossible.

European Commission lead spokesperson Paula Pinho stated on Monday afternoon that while Brussels is working "very, very hard for peace in Ukraine," the ultimate decision rests with the Kremlin. "Peace in Ukraine depends on one person. That person, as you well know, is President Putin. Therefore, at some point, talks with President Putin will necessarily have to take place," Pinho said, noting that extensive preparatory work is ongoing behind the scenes.

Diplomatic shift follows Macron and Meloni's calls

The remarks signal a notable shift in the Commission’s tone, which has primarily focused on the diplomatic isolation of the Kremlin and economic pressure through sanctions since the February 2022 invasion. This evolution follows a recent meeting in Paris where French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a "Coalition of Volunteers," advocating for the re-establishment of dialogue with Putin "as soon as possible." Macron argued that direct communication is essential for Europe to avoid total dependence on the United States for security decisions.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni echoed this sentiment on Friday, backing Macron’s approach. "Europe must talk to Russia," Meloni stated, warning that if the EU only communicates with one side of the conflict, its positive contribution to future negotiations would be limited. She further proposed the appointment of a special EU envoy to represent all 27 member states at the negotiating table to prevent "fragmented voices" that would ultimately benefit Putin.

Barriers to immediate dialogue

Despite the openness to future talks, Pinho clarified that there is currently no indication from Moscow of a readiness to negotiate in good faith. She urged Putin to accept a face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—an invitation Zelenskyy has extended multiple times but has been repeatedly rejected by the Kremlin. "It is not a situation stemming from President Zelenskyy... We are not there yet. We wish we could be," Pinho added.

The controversy within the EU remains sharp, particularly following Russia’s recent use of the "Oreshnik" intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile to strike critical infrastructure in Lviv, just 60 kilometers from the NATO border. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas remarked last week that "Putin does not want peace," arguing that Russia’s response to diplomacy has consistently been more missiles and destruction. While leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico maintain open lines with Moscow, the broader EU consensus remains tied to Ukraine’s ability to break the "deadly cycle" of violence before formal diplomacy can resume.

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Source: Euro News