Brussels approaches Kremlin over potential Ukraine talks

{"text":[[{"start":8.65,"text":"Brussels has opened communication channels with the Kremlin in recent weeks to scope out the potential for talks to end the war in Ukraine, as European capitals debate whether to engage directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin."}],[{"start":20.65,"text":"Pedro Lourtie, chief of staff to EU Council president António Costa, has held telephone calls with a senior official close to Putin, according to two people briefed on the discussions."}],[{"start":31.599999999999998,"text":"“In the past few weeks, brief contacts were made to open communication channels but nothing was discussed on substance,” said one of the people. “In any future scenario, the EU has specific interests that will need to be defended, therefore it is important to have established diplomatic channels with Russia.”"}],[{"start":49.3,"text":"A spokesperson for Costa and Lourtie declined to comment on the talks, which were first reported by Bloomberg. Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, did not immediately respond to a request for comment."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":60.65,"text":"EU governments have for months debated the merits of attempting to re-establish talks with Putin, which were in effect cut after his 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Costa said last month there was the “potential” for the EU to negotiate with Putin, but some capitals are wary of doing so."}],[{"start":78.3,"text":"“The EU is not a mediator. It supports Ukraine in its efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace,” said one of the people briefed on the talks. “For the past few weeks, president Costa has been coordinating closely with European leaders on possible engagement with Russia and the issues to be discussed when the right moment comes.”"}],[{"start":95.19999999999999,"text":"The US had until now led efforts to broker a deal, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner due to visit Russia soon for a further round of discussions with Putin, the Kremlin said on Sunday. "}],[{"start":109.14999999999999,"text":"But the process has stalled as Trump has shifted focus to the US and Israel’s war against Iran. This week, Trump suggested to other G7 leaders that the US could step up support for Ukraine and increase sanctions pressure on Russia."}],[{"start":124.14999999999999,"text":"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that he wants European capitals to play a role in any peace negotiations."}],[{"start":132.75,"text":"Any European diplomatic outreach to Putin would have to overcome Russia’s insistence on pursuing its hardline goals in the conflict even as its war effort sputters."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":142.5,"text":"Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, dismissed pushes for greater European involvement in peace talks at a Moscow meeting with French officials in February. "}],[{"start":152.25,"text":"Though Russia has told Europe it is open to more “constructive” engagement, this “normally means accept[ing] Russian positions”, according to a western official involved in the outreach."}],[{"start":163.25,"text":"Putin has said European countries’ military support for Ukraine makes them unfit to serve as mediators, though he has stopped short of ruling out a meeting entirely."}],[{"start":173.15,"text":"Putin said in early June he did not “see or understand how Russia could trust people who have been talking about the need to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia for years”. He proposed that discussions about future talks with Europe take place “at the level of foreign ministries or secret services”, seemingly ruling out his own involvement."}],[{"start":193.5,"text":"But Russia has also expressed an interest in changing the format of the talks after the last round in Geneva in February found the two sides deadlocked over key issues, according to people involved in back-channel efforts to end the war."}],[{"start":205.7,"text":"Costa, who represents the EU’s 27 national leaders and chairs their regular summits, is by job description the most suitable envoy for the bloc to speak collectively to Moscow."}],[{"start":216.7,"text":"But some capitals have suggested other officials — including Finland’s former president Sauli Niinistö and former ECB president Mario Draghi — as possible alternatives."}],[{"start":228.2,"text":"Putin has repeatedly suggested former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could be Europe’s envoy in potential talks. European countries see that as a non-starter given that Schröder, who met Putin in St Petersburg this month, worked for Kremlin-run gas monopoly Gazprom for years after he left office."}],[{"start":255,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1781752570_9003.mp3"}