A diplomatic overture to the Kremlin by European Council President Antonio Costa has exposed divisions at a summit of EU leaders over how to handle relations with Russia even as the war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending soon.
A senior aide to Costa made "brief" contacts with the Kremlin in recent weeks "to open communication channels", according to an EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.
The EU has sought to isolate Russia diplomatically and economically since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine but European leaders have recently begun discussing the possibility of direct talks with Moscow about the war and broader security issues.
