António Costa’s decision to initiate a direct diplomatic channel with Russia has sparked a heated debate among EU leaders, dominating discussions at Thursday’s Brussels summit and exposing internal divisions over how to approach Moscow. The European Council president defended the move, saying his office had been instructed to establish limited contact with Russian officials to assess whether conditions for future peace talks might exist.

European Council President Antonio Costa has contacted the Kremlin to discuss ending the Ukraine war, signaling a shift in Europe's diplomatic approach.

European Council President António Costa's adviser held two preparatory calls with a Kremlin-linked official to explore Ukraine peace talks. Here's what it