EU weighs envoy role to restart Ukraine peace talks with Russia

Ukraine is urging the EU to help negotiate an end to the war with Russia, a topic that will be discussed in detail at an informal meeting of European foreign ministers in Cyprus.

The EU is actively considering re-engagement with Moscow over Ukraine as US efforts to mediate have ground to a halt and Russia steps up its deadly strikes.

Ukraine's foreign minister told the BBC that Kyiv wants to introduce some new dynamics into the negotiation process.

"We need to move to a new format of talks with the Russian side," Andrii Sybiha said in a recent call, suggesting more active participation by the European side.

Among the candidates rumoured for the role of envoy are former German chancellor Angela Merkel and former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, but Sybiha would not comment on any names.

A spokesperson for Draghi told the BBC he prefers not to comment at this stage.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said this weekend he probably could not answer in the negative if he were offered the task, but only after Russia agreed to a ceasefire.

There is no hint of that.

Over the weekend, Kyiv was hit with missiles and drones in one of the most intense attacks of the war so far. Moscow has since threatened systematic strikes on the city, warning foreigners to leave and locals to beware.

Even as it escalates its aggression, Russia is accusing the EU of encouraging Kyiv militarily and undermining US peace efforts.

Russia prefers to talk to the US, partly for reasons of status and partly because President Donald Trump's envoys have been deeply unchallenging, pressuring Kyiv far more than Moscow.

Their approach has failed. Last week Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was not interested in hosting an endless cycle of meetings that lead to nothing. He has since clarified that the US remains ready to mediate if that opportunity presents itself.

The EU is now looking to join the effort and ensure that any deal, if ever done, is the best for both Ukraine and European security.

Vladimir Putin claims he is open to the idea as long as whoever is appointed has not said all sorts of nasty things about us.

His own suggestion for an EU envoy was former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a close ally of Moscow and long-time lobbyist for its interests.

The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas rejected the idea immediately. Schröder, she said, would be sitting on both sides of the table.

The two-day gathering that opens in Cyprus on Wednesday will allow ministers to set out their countries' positions with more freedom than a formal summit.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, most have pursued a policy of isolation and sanctions, and not all agree on the wisdom of initiating even limited contacts.

Some, like Sweden and Lithuania, see Russia as squeezed now and want the pressure increased, not eased. Others, like Italy, argue that it is unwise to stay on the sidelines any longer.

In March, Kallas circulated some starting points for discussion, described by one EU official as food for thought. Her goal is to formulate a joint EU position regarding Russia and set any red lines before initiating contact.

The idea of appointing an envoy, perhaps even a group of them, will be floated in Cyprus, but serious discussion would only happen at the level of EU leaders, potentially at their summit next month.

Ukraine wants to break the deadlock and is pushing for progress, the EU official said.

"This must not become a prolonged process focused only on discussions about who should represent, how many people, and what format. No. This must happen quickly," Sybiha warned.

In Kyiv, analyst Yaroslav Smovzh believes that engaging with Moscow is doomed unless the EU comes from a position of strength.

"There is a sense that Europe has somewhat lost its sense of agency in international affairs, especially regarding such an important large-scale war in Europe," says Smovzh, from the Adastra think tank.

"But if Europe wants to act as an independent and neutral intermediary it will not yield any results, just like the US did not achieve any success," he says, arguing that Russia needs to be intimidated.

"So far Europe's response to Russia's behaviour in its own territory has been somewhat unconvincing."

As the EU talks about talks, Ukraine has been increasing the pressure on its neighbour itself with repeated deep strikes on Russian oil export facilities. It calls them its long-range sanctions, and Moscow's latest large-scale attacks on Ukraine show that it is rattled.

"They will represent the EU, which clearly understands the threat from Russia," the MP says.