EU Has No Unified Position on Russia Talks, Kallas Says

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said partners have yet to agree on a common position toward Russia in potential peace negotiations on Ukraine, adding that the bloc is not ready to engage with Moscow directly.

Her comments come amid growing debate within Europe over support for Ukraine, including calls from Finland’s President Alexander Stubb for direct engagement with Moscow.

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Kallas said discussions are ongoing among member states about what conditions should be set for any future talks, Ukrinform reported.

Following this, Kallas stressed that the EU is not yet in a position to enter formal peace talks with Russia.

“We do not see that Russia really conducts negotiations in good faith,” she said, noting that internal consultations are continuing on what the EU should demand from Moscow.

Her remarks also come amid renewed controversy over potential mediators, after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder for the role.

German officials and politicians have questioned Schröder’s suitability, citing his longstanding ties to the Kremlin and his refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Against this backdrop, Kallas said she was not surprised by Moscow’s preference for such figures to represent Europe in negotiations.

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“In that case, Russia would be sitting on both sides of the negotiating table,” she said, highlighting concerns over impartiality.

The EU’s top diplomat added that the nature of the war is shifting, pointing to Russia’s mounting battlefield losses, which she said are influencing the broader dynamics of the conflict.

She also recalled presenting a list of proposed conditions for Russia earlier this year, which is expected to be discussed further at an upcoming informal meeting of EU foreign ministers.

The comments underscore continued divisions within Europe over how to properly access the conflict.