Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed European leaders as potential mediators in peace talks with Ukraine, arguing that countries supplying Kyiv with weapons cannot claim neutrality. Speaking to foreign journalists in St. Petersburg late Thursday, Putin said the European Union and its member states were disqualified from brokering an end to the war because they are directly supporting Ukraine.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “How can the European Union or individual EU countries serve as mediators when they are directly assisting the country with which we are in an armed conflict?” Putin said. “Mediation implies neutrality.” His remarks came as Germany, France and the United Kingdom reportedly explore a diplomatic initiative aimed at bringing Russia and Ukraine back to the negotiating table. According to officials familiar with the discussions, the three countries have also consulted Ukrainian counterparts about possible talks. Putin instead pointed to what he described as a compromise peace framework agreed with US President Donald Trump during their summit in Anchorage, Alaska, last year. He said Europe could help end the war only by persuading Kyiv to accept Russian demands rather than continuing military support. The Kremlin leader again insisted that any settlement would require Ukraine to surrender the entire Donetsk region, including areas Russian forces have failed to seize despite more than a decade of fighting.