EU governments are discussing whether former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi or former German Chancellor Angela Merkel could represent the bloc in potential negotiations with Vladimir Putin, amid intensifying efforts to reopen official communication channels with Russia.
Foreign Ministers will debate this issue at a EU meeting in Cyprus next week, writes Financial Times.
The Trump administration, currently preoccupied with its own conflict in the Middle East, has informed European partners that it does not oppose Europe discussing with Putin in parallel with the peace negotiations led by the US, three sources cited by the publication said.
"I know it's not working," one of them said, referring to current efforts to end the conflict.
Brussels has suspended official communication channels with Moscow after Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, except for sporadic attempts at contact by some European leaders.
However, the EU now fears that the lack of progress in the US-led negotiations - mainly due to the firm territorial demands of the Russian leader, rejected by Kiev - has left Europe on the sidelines and vulnerable to an unfavorable agreement.
This has sparked an increasingly intense debate about appointing a joint envoy, despite deep divisions among states regarding the feasibility and scope of such a mission, as well as skepticism about Putin's willingness to respond to this initiative.
Other names mentioned
In addition to Draghi and Merkel, other governments have proposed the names of the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and his predecessor, Sauli Niinistö, as possible candidates, according to sources.
European Council President António Costa, representing the leaders of the 27 EU member states, stated earlier this month that the bloc is preparing for possible discussions with Putin.
Discussions among European capitals on this matter are taking place at various levels, a source said, with the possibility of formal discussions between EU leaders at a summit in June.
"We agree that Europe needs to be involved in negotiations," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a phone call with Costa on Sunday.
A senior Ukrainian official stated that Zelenskyy would like "someone like Draghi" or a "strong current leader" to lead the European side in negotiations with Russia. Zelenskyy is expected to discuss the matter with the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom later this week, the official added.
Draghi, a safe choice
Draghi is seen as a safe and respected choice throughout the EU, with a technocratic profile that could be suitable for this situation, the sources added.
Speaking at a conference on Monday, Merkel expressed regret that Europe was not included in negotiations with Putin. She also said that while underestimating the Russian leader "would be a mistake," it would be equally wrong to underestimate "Europe's own capabilities."
When asked if she would intervene, Merkel said that others would probably be more suitable, emphasizing that Putin would only take leaders in office seriously.
Asked separately about Merkel on Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that EU partners are "deeply discussing this issue" and refused to comment on individual names.
Merkel has long been a political rival of the current Chancellor, with some members of the Christian Democratic Union criticizing her for deepening Germany's energy dependence on Russia during her tenure. A CDU parliamentarian called the idea of using her as a negotiator "nonsense."
A senior European official said that while Sauli Niinistö "is one of the few Europeans who has a working relationship with Putin, the Russians are very upset with Finland at present." The Nordic country abandoned its neutral status and joined NATO in response to the war in Ukraine.
"I think it should be someone from a country like the Netherlands or Portugal, which does not have the baggage that Eastern European countries do," the official added.
The EU Foreign Ministers' meeting will also include discussions on what Europe would request in a post-conflict relationship with Russia, what the red lines would be for a possible agreement in Ukraine, and what the prerequisites would be for opening any discussions with the Kremlin, the sources further stated.
Putin has stated that he is open to discussions with a European representative, on the condition that the envoy "has not said all sorts of nasty things" about him. He proposed his old friend and Merkel's predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, an idea categorically rejected by both Europeans and Kiev.