Russian invasion Negotiations

Zelensky: Time for EU to appoint a negotiator

The EU should be at the negotiating table during any upcoming peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Council President António Costa agree on this, reports The Guardian.

– It is time to decide who will represent Europe, says Zelensky.

However, there is no clear candidate at the moment, the newspaper writes. The Russian president recently said that he wanted to negotiate with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, but this was widely dismissed from European sides due to Schröder's close relationship with the Kremlin.

EU leaders are to discuss at the end of May whether the Union should negotiate with Russia, something Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov is in favor of. At the same time, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna is warning that such talks could be “very dangerous” and that the EU should instead increase pressure on Russia, Bloomberg reports
Russian invasion • Negotiations
Finland and Estonia disagree on dialogue with Russia

The discussion about whether Europe should hold direct talks with Russia or not has become relevant again, several media outlets report.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna is firmly opposed to talks.

“This is not the time to talk or negotiate. This is the time to increase pressure on Russia,” he said at a security conference in Tallinn on Saturday.

Russia is weakened, is Tsahkna’s message. Things are going badly on the front, the economy is limping, the EU’s loan to Ukraine has been voted through after Orbán disappeared, and Russian frustration over the increased repression is growing.

The statement comes after Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that “it is time to start talking to Russia” in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera on Monday.

Earlier in May, EU Council President António Costa also opened up for dialogue with Russia, but only “at the right time.”