European Council President Antonio Costa has stated that an unofficial diplomatic communication channel with the Kremlin remains open for discussing a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. He made this statement in an interview with Rapporteur, emphasizing that the initiative is open for dialogue on protecting critical infrastructure and stopping hostilities.
European Union's Position on Dialogue
According to Antonio Costa, the European side maintains the possibility of communicating with the Russian leadership if there is genuine interest from their side. The head of the European Council noted that Moscow is aware of the possibility to reach out if it is ready to discuss practical steps for resolving the conflict.
During the interview, Costa asked a counter-question to the journalist regarding the readiness of the Russian side for serious negotiations. European structures currently note no concrete signs of a shift in Moscow's position, but the technical possibility for contacts remains.
Background and Diplomatic Initiatives
In June, the chief advisor to the European Council President held two telephone conversations with a senior Russian official belonging to the inner circle of the Russian leadership. These contacts marked the first attempt of their kind by EU institutions since the start of the full-scale armed conflict in February 2022.
It later transpired that the initiative came from Costa himself, who approached the Kremlin with a request to open a communication channel. The decision to conduct independent consultations drew criticism from some European leaders due to the lack of advance notification to certain union partners.
Formats for Potential Negotiations
Discussing the possible appointment of a special EU representative to participate in the negotiation process, Antonio Costa pointed out that such a decision depends on the format and agenda of future discussions. Any institutional steps by Brussels will depend on Moscow's readiness for substantive dialogue.
Experts and diplomatic circles note that maintaining such channels reflects the complex search for paths to a diplomatic settlement amid ongoing hostilities. The further development of the situation depends on the real steps taken by the Russian side regarding a ceasefire.
