
European Union governments are considering the possibility of former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi or former German Chancellor Angela Merkel representing the EU in possible negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, the British newspaper Financial Times reported today.
The US administration, currently preoccupied with its war in the Middle East, has informed its European counterparts that it is not against Europe talking to Putin, alongside US-led peace talks, well-informed sources told the British newspaper.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that Moscow could continue dialogue with Europe, but criticized Kaja Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign policy and security, saying she would not be suitable for future negotiations with Moscow.
"It would not be in Kaja Kallas' interest to play the role of negotiator. It would not be easy for her. If you remember, Putin said it could be anyone who doesn't say too many bad things" about Russia, Peskov said.
We recall that a week ago, another former German chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, was proposed by Russia as a negotiator for the EU, but the latter, viewed with skepticism as someone who worked closely with Putin in his post-chancellor years, was immediately rejected by the European Union as a negotiator.