Europe has no other way: it must grow up to the task, whether it likes it or not

Europe must confront the reality of its geopolitical situation and mature into its responsibilities, according to geopolitical expert Anton Bendarzsevszkij. He emphasizes the urgent need for the European Union to establish a credible negotiator capable of engaging in meaningful dialogue with Russia.

Bendarzsevszkij points out the scarcity of individuals who could be accepted by all parties involved in the conflict – Ukraine, Russia, and European nations. While he mentioned Angela Merkel as a potential candidate due to her experience, he acknowledged that her past decisions might create a burden, making her acceptance by all sides uncertain. He also noted that Gerhard Schröder's name has been floated, but he is rejected by both European and Ukrainian parties. The expert suggested that a less political figure, such as a former UN Secretary-General like Kofi Annan, or a technocrat like Mario Draghi, could be considered.

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Europe must grow up to the task, whether it likes it or not.

The expert argues that Europe has increasingly outsourced its security and diplomatic tasks to the United States, failing to develop an independent strategy. He believes that the war will likely end through negotiations, making a European representative capable of serious discussions with Russia essential. Bendarzsevszkij criticizes the past European policy of assuming Russia would collapse and a new leadership would emerge, stating that it is more probable that an agreement will need to be reached with the current Russian leadership.

He further asserts that the EU's current foreign representation is weak, with no one at the European level capable of effectively negotiating with the Russians. He specifically called Josep Borrell's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, unsuitable for this task. Ultimately, Bendarzsevszkij foresees an eventual reconciliation between Russia and Europe, drawing parallels to the post-Yugoslav wars period where agreements were made even with figures like Slobodan Milošević.

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There is no one at the European level who can negotiate with the Russian side, and unfortunately, Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, proves unsuitable for this task.