EU signals Russia talks 'far off', backs US diplomatic lead

EU Council President António Costa indicated Tuesday that direct talks between Brussels and Moscow remain distant, while the bloc aligns behind US-led diplomatic efforts on Ukraine. According to EurActiv, Costa suggested the "right moment" for EU-Russia engagement has not arrived.

The statement reflects consensus among EU capitals that conditions for productive negotiation do not yet exist. EU officials have consistently tied any normalisation of relations to Russian withdrawal from Ukrainian territory and respect for Kyiv's sovereignty.

Costa's comments underscore the bloc's preference for coordinated Western strategy rather than parallel EU initiatives that might fragment the response to Russian aggression. The position signals European acceptance that the United States, under its new administration, will lead diplomatic tracks. EU members remain committed to supporting Ukraine militarily and financially while maintaining sanctions pressure on Moscow.