Brussels, 28 May 2026
The European Union has refused to appoint a special envoy for Ukraine peace talks with Russia, citing concerns that it would play into Russia's hands.
The decision was made at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus, where EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned against discussing who should talk to Russia, saying it's a trap set by Russia.
Kallas stated that the EU needs to discuss its core interests and central demands, which could include Russian troop presence in Georgia or Moldova and Moscow's election interference.
Background
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was floated by the Kremlin as a potential European representative, but his closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin makes him a non-viable candidate.