According to the Financial Times, the EU is considering appointing the former Chancellor or former Prime Minister to speak with Putin. In the coming weeks, meanwhile, Witkoff is expected in Moscow.
It took years, yet even the European Union finally seems to be convinced that one negotiated solution to the Ukrainian conflict is ultimately the only practicable one.
According to what was reported by Financial Timesin fact, the European Union he is considering the use of high-profile figures to reopen a diplomatic channel with Moscow and favor a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine, now entering its fifth year.
The idea of Draghi and Merkel as European envoys
After years of beating the drums of war, common sense is starting to make its way even within the European Union, in other words.
According to sources spoken to by the British newspaper, the EU is considering the appointment of two “heavyweights” to officially reopen dialogue with Moscow: the former prime minister Mario Draghi and the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
However, there is nothing official yet the idea which is expected to be discussed by EU foreign ministers at next week’s informal meeting in Cyprus.
A move that would seem to enjoy American approval, given that the Trump administration, also involved in the Middle East, would not have expressed reservations about a parallel dialogue between Europe and Russia on the dossier Ukrainian.
However, Merkel and Draghi would not be the only candidates, the current Finnish president would also appear to be present among them Alexander Stubbin addition to its predecessor Sauli Niinisto.
However, it should be remembered that in his “diplomatic opening” to Europe, the Russian President had stated that he was willing to meet any representative of Europe as long as it is a leader who “has not expressed negative judgments” or “said unpleasant things” about Russia.
It is therefore not surprising that this role is not assumed by what in theory should be the EU High Representative for foreign policy, the Estonian Kaja Kallas; effectively disqualified by her assiduous and continuous anti-Russian utterances.
Kallas’s inadequacy for the role she held was also shared by around ten European officials, who, when interviewed by Politico, complained about her undiplomatic manners and her fixation with Russia.
Merkel slows down and beats the EU
No later than two days ago, former Chancellor Angela Merkel had also commented on her possible nomination as EU representative in the talks with Moscow, asserting that «leaders with current political power are needed. Only those who govern can be credible with Putin.”
However, Merkel had not begged for criticism of the current leadership of the Union, «I believe that Europe is not sufficiently exploiting its diplomatic potential. It is not enough that Trump alone maintains contacts with Russia».
On the other hand, as the former Chancellor recalled, «diplomacy has always been the other side of the coin, even during the War Cold», it is therefore not clear why the EU decided to exclude itself from this role for four long years during the conflict in Ukraine.
“Witkoff soon in Moscow”
As the EU considers diplomatic opening, dialogue between the United States and Russia could soon resume.
Kremlin advisor Yury Ushakov in fact confirmed today that the special envoy of the President of the United States Donald Trump, Steve Witkoffand son-in-law Jared Kushner will visit Russia in the coming weeks.
Also the Special Representative of the Russian President for Investment, Kirill Dmitrievhad stated that Witkoff was planning to travel to Russia soon.
However, there are still no precise dates for the visit, with the United States currently remaining focused on the Middle Eastern war. A situation which, potentially, would offer an open field for Europe’s diplomatic involvementprovided that the political will to take up this space really exists.
