The European Union will not act as a neutral broker between Ukraine and Russia and has no intention of replacing the United States in any future peace framework, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, as debate continues over whether the bloc should appoint a special envoy for potential talks with Moscow.
The issue was discussed at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on Thursday in Lemesos, Cyprus, where the idea of a dedicated envoy became one of the most contested topics on the agenda. The discussion has triggered speculation about possible candidates, but also exposed divisions among member states.
Kallas rejected the idea of neutrality in the conflict. “One thing is very clear: Europe will never be a neutral mediator between Russia and Ukraine, because we are on Ukraine’s side and we are defending our own security interests,” she said after the meeting.
She added that the EU’s role cannot be framed as equal distance between the two sides, arguing that Ukraine requires European backing to strengthen its position in any negotiations. “We can’t be neutral, treating them equally, because we have been clearly on Ukraine’s side,” she said.
At the same time, Kallas stressed that the EU does not intend to take over mediation efforts from Washington. She said European actions would remain complementary to US diplomacy, not a replacement for it, noting that coordination with American efforts remains essential.
