EU Will Not Be Neutral Mediator Between Ukraine and Russia

JAKARTA - The highest diplomat of the European Union on Thursday rejected the possibility of Europe acting as a neutral mediator between Ukraine and Russia, after the foreign ministers of the 27 member countries of the bloc discussed their requirements for possible talks with Moscow.

Discussions about re-engaging with Moscow are heating up amid a stalemate in U.S. efforts to stop the war in Ukraine while U.S. President Donald Trump's attention is focused on Iran.

Ukraine has been pushing Europe - which has been sidelined by Washington - to play a bigger role and suggesting it appoint a representative for talks.

"Europe will never be a neutral mediator between Russia and Ukraine, because we are on the side of Ukraine and we defend our own core security interests," EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas told reporters in Cyprus, Al Arabiya reported from AFP (28/5).

"We cannot be neutral by treating them equally," he said.

Previously, Kallas warned that focusing on who would speak for Europe was a "trap" for Russia, as he urged the bloc to concentrate on setting clear red lines.

Speculation over a candidate for envoy has intensified, with Russian President Vladimir Putin suggesting former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a longtime ally, could be the right choice. The idea has been roundly rejected in Europe.

Several ministers in Cyprus have pushed for the appointment of a representative, including Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, who argued that "this is what Ukraine expects: that the EU should now prepare."

Meanwhile, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said her country's president, Alexander Stubb, could be a good choice, while Luxembourg's chief diplomat Xavier Bettel said he would propose the name of former EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

Kallas said after the meeting, a "broad consensus" among ministers was to work through EU institutions.

But he said the focus must be on securing concessions from Russia in any talks and continuing to increase pressure on Moscow through sanctions.

The former Estonian prime minister, who is hardline, has spent months trying to set a series of red lines, seeking to bind countries together and avoid Moscow exploiting any loopholes.

That includes insisting that Russia halt the firing before any talks, demanding limits on Russian military forces and refusing to recognize the Kremlin's control over the seized territory.

"Europe has a legitimate demand to ensure that any peace is lasting, and the ministers asked me to continue this work," Kallas said.

European officials say President Vladimir Putin appears weakened as Russia's economy slumps, casualties mount and a long-distance drone campaign by Ukraine takes its toll.

However, there is widespread skepticism he is serious about negotiating in good faith, while the Kremlin has launched nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles into Kyiv in recent days and threatened foreign diplomats.

After ignoring the Kremlin leader since his invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe is wary of the prospect of talking to President Putin.

"This is not the time to discuss who will lead the negotiations," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys.

"We have to discuss what we are doing to put additional pressure on Russia and also provide more assistance to Ukraine," he said.