--- title: "Lawyer or Judge? Norway Puts the Finishing Touches on the Question of European Mediation with Russia" description: "Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Bart Eide stated that Europe should not attempt to become a mediator between Ukraine and Russia. ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ According to him, the West should be the voice of the continent and an advocate for Kyiv, not a judge who cannot defend the interests of one of the parties. ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ด๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ" date: 2026-05-28T14:40:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/norway-refuses-mediation-europe-must-be-ukraines-lawyer-en tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Lawyer or Judge? Norway Puts the Finishing Touches on the Question of European Mediation with Russia ![Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Bart Eide speaking at a podium against a blue banner with the coat of arms of Norway](https://xab.info/media/2026/05/28/norvegiya-otkazyvaetsya-ot-posrednichestva-evropa-dolzhna-byt-advokatom-ukrainy/espen-bart-eide-norway-foreign-minister.webp) Amidst discussions about who should lead the dialogue with Moscow, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Bart Eide proposed that Europe radically change its perspective. In his view, Brussels should not attempt to become a neutral arbiter, trying to replace Donald Trump. Instead, the continent should take the position of the "voice of Europe" in ongoing negotiations, while remaining a staunch defender of Kyiv's interests. ### The Illusion of Neutrality Bart Eide used a vivid legal metaphor to explain the impossibility of a dual role for the West. He compared the situation to the work of a lawyer and a judge: being a defender of Ukraine is a heroic mission, but attempting to simultaneously become a mediator in the peace process is a conflict of interest. "There is nothing wrong with a judge, but he cannot be the lawyer for one side," emphasized the Norwegian diplomat. According to Oslo, a true mediator must have distance from both sides of the conflict. Seeking this figure among Western politicians, in the minister's opinion, is a strategic error. At the same time, Norway, despite its experience mediating in Colombia, does not put forward its own candidacy, remaining in the role of a supporter rather than an arbiter. ### Doubling Support Instead of Pausing The situation on the front, according to Bart Eide, requires not a slowdown, but a sharp acceleration of aid. The minister noted that independent observations confirm: Ukrainian troops have stopped the Russian offensive and have a small but real advantage. It is precisely now, when successes are evident, that it is critically important not just to continue, but to double the volume and quality of supplies. Norway's position on this issue sounds particularly convincing thanks to the figures. The country, which is not a member of the European Union, has already transferred more than 6 billion euros in military aid to Kyiv โ€” this is more than France, Italy, and Spain combined. ### Candidate Crisis The idea of appointing a European negotiator for direct contacts with Vladimir Putin is in the air, but consensus has not been found. The list of potential "peacemakers" included famous politicians: former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former ECB President Mario Draghi, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. However, enthusiasm quickly cooled. Merkel herself made it clear that she does not consider herself a suitable candidate. Some EU countries fear that appointing a mediator could be perceived as a signal to weaken sanctions pressure, especially considering that the Kremlin may not take the idea of a ceasefire seriously. Moscow's proposal โ€” the candidacy of Gerhard Schrรถder โ€” was rejected by all European capitals and Kyiv. Thus, Europe remains in the role of a "lawyer," ready to strengthen support, but refusing to don the judge's robe in negotiations with Moscow.