Who speaks for Europe in the Ukraine peace talks?

European governments are grappling with the potential need for a designated negotiator to engage in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine's peace deal. U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff recently visited Russia to propose a three-way summit involving Putin, Donald Trump, and Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, European leaders have expressed concerns about Putin's disregard for the EU's authority and his reluctance to communicate with other European leaders.

Czech President Petr Pavel emphasized that Putin does not want to communicate with EU representatives like Ursula von der Leyen or Kaja Kallas, suggesting that the EU should identify an individual or group to represent them in negotiations. This has reignited debates in Brussels about the necessity of having a direct line to Putin to protect the region's interests and safeguard Ukraine's position.

Potential candidates for this role include Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, who has previously negotiated directly with Trump on trade, and António Costa, the president of the European Council, who has opened a line of communication with the Kremlin through his office. However, a European diplomat argued that a deal with Putin and Trump would not be determined by EU protocols, emphasizing the importance of selecting the most valuable representative based on their ability to provide value, rather than personal power struggles or narcissistic preferences.

Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland, has gained attention as a potential candidate due to his strong relationship with Trump and Finland's extensive experience dealing with Russia. A second EU diplomat highlighted Stubb's role as the most high-level political leader to come forward, suggesting he could serve as a European envoy at a future peace summit.

The European Commission maintains that it is already present at the peace talks, citing the presence of Seibert, von der Leyen's senior aide, in Oslo. However, a European diplomat argued that the EU should be represented by a single individual rather than a small group of powerful countries. They emphasized the need for both Seibert and Pedro Lourtie, the top aide to António Costa, to have seats at the table during preparatory talks, and for EU member countries to be properly informed about progress.