As Russia once again cools expectations by warning that peace negotiations are moving “slowly,” the European Union has rejected accusations of internal division. The issue arose after French President Emmanuel Macron extended an invitation for dialogue with Vladimir Putin—an initiative that has raised concerns in several European capitals. The main fears are twofold: that France could weaken European unity and that the Kremlin might exploit the move to sow divisions within the EU. For this reason, a European Commission spokesperson sought to lower the temperature, stressing that “we remain coordinated with the member states on any possible bilateral contacts with Russia, in the interest of a just and lasting peace.” According to Brussels, any effort aimed at peace is welcome.
However, one unresolved issue continues to cause discomfort within European institutions: who would actually represent the EU in a potential meeting with the Russian president? Would it be Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission? Antonio Costa, President of the European Council? Or the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas? These questions currently have no clear answers and have prompted von der Leyen’s team to soften the contours of Macron’s proposal.
Germany has also denied any rift with France. After two political setbacks for Berlin at the European level—over the use of frozen Russian assets and the failure of trade agreements with Mercosur—the German government emphasized that European unity on the war in Ukraine remains intact.
“We have no concerns that the common European position will waver,” said government spokesperson Steffen Meyer. Nevertheless, the Chancellery has confirmed that no talks are planned between Macron and Chancellor Merz, nor is there any German involvement in contacts with the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Brussels has renewed economic sanctions against Moscow, including the oil embargo and the exclusion of several Russian banks from the SWIFT system. Despite these developments, a rapid turn toward peace in Ukraine still appears distant. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, appears more optimistic about a plan prepared jointly with the United States.