Talk to Russia? First, Europe needs to pick an envoy – and know what it wants to say

Members of diplomatic missions to Ukraine hold flowers to lay them outside heavily damaged residential buildings following Russian strikes in Kyiv on May 25, 2026. © Tetiana Dzhafarova, AFP

With the US bogged down in its war against Iran, Ukraine has been urging Europe to step up and play an active role in negotiations on bringing the Russian invasion to an end. But EU officials say the bloc first needs to be aligned on what it wants to say to Moscow – and who would be best placed to serve as a mediator.

With Washington distracted by the US-Israeli war against Iran and Russian President Vladimir Putin appearing on the back foot as his troops' advance slows, Europe is seriously weighing the possibility of talking to Moscow about ending the war in Ukraine.