#What steps are being taken by Europe to engage Russia?
Europe has recently initiated communication with Russia, a development spearheaded by António Costa, the president of the European Council. His senior adviser has conducted two significant preliminary phone calls with a notable official known to be connected to Vladimir Putin. These discussions aim to explore potential avenues for peace negotiations concerning Ukraine.
This outreach, reported on June 17, marks a pivotal move by a senior EU leader toward direct engagement with Moscow since the conflict's early stages. Notably, there has been no official comment from either Costa’s representatives or Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov regarding these calls.
#What do we know about the nature of the communication?
Costa did not directly engage in these discussions but delegated the task to his adviser, who focused on understanding whether meaningful peace talks are feasible. For several months, Costa has been vocal about the necessity for the EU to engage with Russia on mutual security concerns, while emphasizing that the timing for formal discussions is still being assessed.
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#How does Europe internally view engagement with Russia?
Within the EU, there is a complex internal dialogue surrounding the approach to Russia. While member nations largely support providing military and political backing to Ukraine, opinions vary on the rate and method of engaging with Moscow. Some advocate for appointing a special envoy to facilitate dialogue with Russia, while others believe that any outreach at this point could be reckless or ill-timed.
A separate, parallel dialogue is underway among Europe’s major capitals, including Germany, France, and the UK, as they coordinate individual strategies with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding engagement with Russia.
#Why is this engagement happening now, and what factors are influencing it?
Several factors seem to be prompting both sides to consider negotiations at this juncture. Russia has made limited territorial advancements in Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces have successfully conducted military operations within Russian borders. Moreover, extensive Western sanctions have placed significant stress on the Russian economy, necessitating substantial restructuring. These elements collectively urge a reevaluation of positions by both Europe and Russia, opening the door for potential diplomatic discussions.