European Council President António Costa confirmed on 19 June that his office has initiated a direct diplomatic channel with Moscow, describing the contacts as brief, preparatory and devoid of substantive negotiation. The move, first reported by Bloomberg and confirmed by EU officials, was defended by Costa as necessary to ensure the bloc can transmit its own messages rather than relying on others’ interpretations. He stressed that the EU is not a mediator and remains firmly on Ukraine’s side, but argued that the Union must be ready to defend its specific interests—sanctions, frozen assets, enlargement and security guarantees—if and when conditions for dialogue with Russia emerge.

At a summit in Brussels the same week, the initiative drew both support and sharp criticism, exposing divisions among the 27 member states. According to diplomatic sources cited by Politico and DPA, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed irritation that the outreach had not been coordinated with all capitals, while Baltic leaders, including Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, argued that now is not the time to open talks because President Vladimir Putin does not want the EU at the table. Conversely, a “large number” of leaders backed Costa, viewing him as the natural representative given his treaty role in external representation. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten cautioned that it was “still too early” to designate a European negotiator, reflecting a broader uncertainty over whether the EU should speak through the Council president, the E3 format of France, Germany and the UK, or a special envoy.

Viewed from Moscow, the Kremlin signalled conditional openness. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is ready for dialogue with European forces that seek genuine engagement, but he rejected any approach based on “negotiations from a position of strength” or ultimatums, calling the European assumption of Russian weakness “the biggest mistake.” He urged the EU to acquaint itself with the “real situation” in the Ukraine conflict. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mocked the idea of a new channel, noting that EU ambassadors are already stationed in Moscow. The Kremlin’s position, as relayed by Interfax and Vedomosti, is that Europe must make the first move to restore ties severed by EU sanctions, and that any dialogue must proceed without moralising.

The diplomatic flurry occurs against a backdrop of EU anxiety about being sidelined. With US attention diverted to Iran and American envoys continuing their own Moscow contacts, Brussels has watched the E3 ambassadors meet a Russian deputy foreign minister on 11 June and has noted President Volodymyr Zelensky’s calls for the EU to expand its diplomatic activity. Costa’s chief of staff, Pedro Lourtie, reportedly held two phone conversations with a senior Russian official close to Putin. The summit concluded with no formal mandate for further talks; leaders agreed to maintain pressure on Russia while preparing for a potential negotiating role. The dossier remains in a preparatory phase, with the question of who speaks for Europe unresolved and further consensus-building expected among member states.