EU Council President Costa explains to EU leaders why he resumed contacts with Moscow

During a closed-door discussion on Ukraine at the Brussels summit on June 18, European Council President Antonio Costa explained to EU member state leaders why he had resumed contacts between the European Council and Russia. An anonymous EU official familiar with the discussion told the "European Pravda" correspondent that Costa confirmed he recently initiated "short diplomatic contacts with the Kremlin." He instructed his office to "open a diplomatic channel with Russia." The aim, according to the official, is to "be ready to defend EU interests when the moment comes." The official clarified that these are brief contacts without substantive information exchange or negotiations. "Diplomats are doing diplomatic work," the EU official added. Earlier, European media reported that Costa had established contact with the Kremlin, attempting to involve Russian ruler Vladimir Putin in discussions on ending the war in Ukraine. European countries have begun discussing the idea of appointing a European negotiator to join the peace process. Coordination is ongoing between the so-called "euro trio" – the UK, France, and Germany – and the Ukrainian president on negotiations and security guarantees.