---
title: "Kremlin Refuses to Set Conditions on the Composition of the European Negotiating Group"
description: "Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow will not set conditions on the composition of the European negotiating group and considers such framing wrong. According to him, it is more important for Russia to communicate with Europeans and understand their position."
date: 2026-11-14T13:49:23.050Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kremlin-refuses-conditions-european-negotiating-group
tags: [kremlin, dmitry-peskov, eu-negotiations, ukraine-peace-talks, zelensky]
author: "Alexander Buran, Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Kremlin Refuses to Set Conditions on the Composition of the European Negotiating Group

![Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking at a press conference with active gestures](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/14/kreml-ne-budet-stavit-usloviya-po-evropeyskoy-peregovornoy-gruppe/kreml-ne-budet-stavit-usloviya-po-evropeyskoy-peregovornoy-gruppe-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The Kremlin stated it will not set conditions regarding the composition of the European negotiating group and considers such framing wrong.
- Dmitry Peskov emphasized that it is more important for Moscow to communicate with Europeans and understand how their position can contribute to the peace process.
- The Kremlin noted that the absence of representatives from Norway and Finland does not overly trouble the Russian side.
- The European Union decided to officially join the negotiations and plans to send national security advisors from five European countries.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about a new security architecture, prospects for NATO membership, and preparations for a prisoner exchange of 'over a thousand for over a thousand'.

The Kremlin has commented on reports that the European Union is actively forming the composition of a potential negotiating group to end the war in Ukraine. According to RBC-Ukraine, official Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow does not intend to set conditions regarding who exactly will join this group, considering such framing of the question 'completely wrong.' Thus, the Russian side has outlined a principled position: the composition of the European delegation is an internal matter for Brussels, not a subject for bargaining.

### The Kremlin’s Position: No Conditions on Composition

As RBC-Ukraine reports, Peskov emphasized that Moscow will not dictate to Europeans whom they should include in the negotiating team. According to him, any attempt to tie the group's composition to demands from Russia is the wrong approach to the settlement process itself. The Kremlin is essentially absolving itself of responsibility for which specific European capitals will represent themselves at the negotiating table, shifting this choice onto Brussels and the European states themselves.

### Dialogue Instead of Conditions: 'To Understand Their Position'

A key emphasis in Peskov’s statement was placed on the need for direct contact. 'It would be better for us to communicate with the Europeans and understand the extent to which their position can potentially contribute to the peace process,' the Kremlin spokesman stated. This phrasing indicates that for the Russian side, the names on the list are less important than the substance of the position Europeans are ready to voice. In other words, following this logic, Moscow is ready to evaluate European participation based on the substance of proposals rather than the formal composition of the delegation.

### Norway and Finland: Absence Is Not Critical

The Kremlin separately commented on the composition of the forming group, noting that the absence of representatives from Norway and Finland—countries that previously made contact with Moscow—does not trouble the Russian side 'too much.' This statement can be interpreted as a signal that Russia does not tie its negotiating expectations to specific Scandinavian capitals and is ready to work with whatever European composition Brussels deems appropriate to send.

### Context: The EU Officially Joins the Negotiations

Peskov’s statement came against the backdrop of the European Union's decision to officially join the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. According to available data, for the next round of negotiations involving Kyiv and Moscow, Brussels plans to send national security advisors from five European countries at once. Thus, the European side is effectively shifting from an observer role to direct participation in shaping the negotiating architecture, which prompted the reaction in the Kremlin.

### The Ukrainian Side: Security Architecture and Prisoner Exchange

Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed new details about upcoming peace talks involving European partners. Specifically, he spoke about a new security architecture, prospects for NATO membership, and preparations for a large-scale prisoner exchange in the format of 'over a thousand for over a thousand.' The combination of these statements shows that both sides—European and Ukrainian—are building their negotiating agenda around security issues and humanitarian steps, whereas Moscow, according to Peskov, prefers to hear the European position first before evaluating its contribution to the peace process.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [У Путина заявили, что не будут ставить условия по европейской переговорной группе](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/putina-zayavili-shcho-stavitimut-umov-evropeyskiy-1794661953.html) - Primary source: Peskov's statement about reluctance to set conditions on the group's composition, the quote about the need to communicate with Europeans, the remark about Norway and Finland, as well as context about EU accession (national security advisors of five countries) and Zelenskyy's statements about security architecture, NATO, and prisoner exchange.

## FAQ

### Will Russia set conditions on the composition of the European negotiating group?

No. According to Dmitry Peskov, Moscow will not put forward conditions regarding the group's composition and considers such framing completely wrong.

### What is more important for Russia, according to Peskov: the group's composition or the Europeans' position?

It is more important to communicate with Europeans and understand the extent to which their position can potentially contribute to the peace process, the Kremlin spokesman stated.

### Is Moscow troubled by the absence of Norway and Finland on the lists?

The Kremlin noted that the absence of representatives from these countries, which previously contacted Moscow, does not overly trouble the Russian side.

### Who from Europe plans to participate in the negotiations?

According to available data, Brussels plans to send national security advisors from five European countries to the next round of talks with Kyiv and Moscow.