Any Contacts With The Kremlin Must Be Accompanied By A Demand To End The War — European Commission Spokesperson

European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand has urged that all interactions with the Kremlin must be driven by a demand for an end to the war in Ukraine. This was stated during a press conference in Brussels on October 21, in response to inquiries from a UATV English special correspondent. He underscored the significance of utilizing contacts with Moscow to intensify pressure on the Kremlin.

Wigand highlighted the importance of engaging the US, China, and Russia, who are set to meet during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. He stressed that any engagement with Russian authorities presents a critical chance to urge the Kremlin to cease its unlawful and aggressive war against Ukraine. Furthermore, he advocated for continuing to exert pressure on Moscow.

Wigand reiterated the European Commission's consistent stance that Ukraine must be part of any peace negotiations. Additionally, he highlighted the necessity for Europe to participate in these discussions, as recently emphasized by the European Council. The EU is also keen to receive information on whether the possibility of a meeting between Ukraine and Russia was discussed during US presidential special representative Steve Witkoff's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.