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Moscow has indicated a significant shift in its stance by expressing openness to the participation of European representatives in upcoming negotiations regarding Ukraine. This development hints at the potential involvement of an EU delegation in future peace talks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Russia does not intend to impose conditions on the European Union regarding representation at the negotiation table. Previously, Moscow had firmly stated that EU representatives were unwelcome. Peskov noted, “We cannot and do not want to set conditions for their negotiating team. This is a completely wrong way to put it,” while stressing the importance of consulting with European representatives to gauge their potential contribution to the peace process.
Shift in Kremlin Rhetoric
This statement signifies a marked change in Russia’s approach towards the European Union over recent months. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2024, Russia had consistently accused Europe of exacerbating the conflict and contributing to the humanitarian crisis by supporting Kyiv.
Earlier this week, trilateral discussions involving negotiators from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia took place in Abu Dhabi, where European representatives were notably absent. However, a subsequent announcement by US envoy Jared Kushner indicated that Russia had agreed to broaden the scope of the next round of talks to include European participation.
In tandem with this development, EU leaders reached a consensus on Friday regarding representation, designating Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the bloc’s institutions to represent Europe at the negotiations.
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