Costa Defends EU's Direct Contact Attempts with Kremlin Amidst Criticism

European Council President António Costa has defended his efforts to open a direct communication channel with the Kremlin, a move that has drawn criticism from several EU leaders. At a press conference following the EU summit, Costa argued for the necessity of the EU maintaining its own dialogue with Russia.

"It is necessary that the EU has its own contact with Russia," Costa stated, explaining that the bloc cannot rely solely on others to interpret Russian messages and must also be able to communicate its own positions directly. He reiterated that the EU is unequivocally on Ukraine's side and does not aim to act as a mediator in the conflict. Costa acknowledged that there are currently no credible signs from Russia indicating a willingness to engage in serious peace negotiations.

Despite Costa's defense, some leaders expressed reservations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that the E3 group, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, should be the primary entity for any potential negotiations. Merz noted that the E3 was formed at Ukraine's request and that these countries are making significant contributions to Ukraine's support. He indicated that the E3 countries are expected to bear the main responsibility for security guarantees to Ukraine post-war, implying that decisions on who represents Europe in negotiations are not immediately necessary.