Von der Leyen and Costa defend “starting to talk” with Russia so that the EU is at the peace table

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the president of the European Council, António Costa, have defended the need for the European Union to “start talking” with Russia and open diplomatic channels with Moscow so that, “when the time comes” the Twenty-Seven have representation in possible peace negotiations.

In a press conference at the end of the European Council that took place this Thursday and Friday in Brussels, the two high-ranking officials of the European Union detailed that they will work “closely” together with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to prepare a common position of the community bloc for when “the time comes” to speak with Moscow.

“Sooner or later, Russia will have to sit at the negotiating table, particularly under the pressure of our sanctions. And when that time comes, we need a united European message addressed to President (Vladimir) Putin,” said Von der Leyen, who has supported Costa in the face of doubts generated by recent open contacts with Moscow.

“I can only confirm that from the first day we have collaborated in an excellent way, and this will continue to be the case,” added the German conservative, who after warning that “our entire continent is at risk”, has claimed that “Europe must be one of the architects of a just and lasting peace” and that in any case “Ukraine must take the reins.”

Costa, for his part, has tried to clarify “misunderstandings” by stating that the European Union “is not, nor does it intend to be, a mediator”, since it has been “on the side of Ukraine” since the beginning of the Russian invasion “and will continue to be so after the war.”

“It is also clear that, unfortunately, we have no credible signs that Russia wants to embark on serious negotiations at the moment,” added the Portuguese leader, who also highlighted that Ukraine’s role as a negotiator with Russia is “complementary” to the role of the European Union “defending its interests” at an eventual negotiating table.

Regarding the conversations initiated by his team, he clarified that what he was trying to do was only “establish a diplomatic channel.” “We cannot rely solely on others to interpret Russian messages; we must be able to convey our own messages directly to Russia,” he explained.

Asked what he responds to those who criticize that his initiative was not consulted with the Member States, Costa defended that it is necessary to “immediately establish this direct contact”, because we must “listen to them and we need to send them our messages”.

“And when all the leaders have repeated that the European Union must be sitting at the table for future negotiations, at the future negotiating table, logically we need to start talking, to have direct contact with Russia,” he concluded.

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The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, also referred to this issue at the end of the summit, pointing out that although “the Europeans are not mediators”, on the day there are negotiations, the European Union “must be sitting at the table.”

“There have been powers, sometimes friends, that have positioned themselves as mediators in this conflict. We are not. We are on Ukraine’s side. We provide aid and support, and we have imposed sanctions on Russia,” he said.

Despite this, he has expressed the opinion that it is important for the community bloc to be in possible peace talks because “Europe’s interests are at stake” and therefore Europeans “must be represented.”

In line, he predicted that President Costa “will have a role within the scope of his powers” and that the Member States “will also have their place”, since he “cannot represent them on issues related to security guarantees, which will be a key element of any negotiation.”