Russia has indicated it is willing to resume dialogue with European governments, but the Kremlin has firmly rejected any negotiations framed around pressure, preconditions or assumptions of Russian weakness. The remarks come as divisions widen within the European Union over whether to reopen communication channels with Moscow amid shifting diplomatic dynamics around the Ukraine war.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said renewed contact was “necessary” given the scale of unresolved issues between Russia and Europe, but criticised what he described as a persistent belief in some EU capitals that talks must be conducted “from a position of strength.” He called this approach a “big mistake”, arguing it would not lead to meaningful progress.
The debate inside the EU has intensified in recent weeks. After years of sanctions and near‑frozen diplomatic engagement, several European leaders have begun exploring whether the bloc should play a more active role in potential peace negotiations—especially after allowing US President Donald Trump to take the lead in mediation efforts over the past year.
European Council President António Costa’s office has reportedly held limited diplomatic contacts with the Kremlin to assess whether reopening channels is feasible. Meanwhile, Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker urged EU leaders to use the momentum around peace discussions to restart engagement with President Vladimir Putin.
However, the idea has exposed deep fractures within the EU. Eastern European states, including Estonia, have strongly opposed treating Russia as a negotiating partner without concrete concessions from Moscow. Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Europe must not act as a “neutral mediator” and should instead focus on strengthening Ukraine’s position.
Other leaders, such as Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin, support reopening communication but insist that Ukraine must be central to any settlement.
With no consensus reached at recent EU meetings, the bloc remains divided over how—and whether—to re-engage with Moscow, even as Russia signals conditional openness to talks.