EU Has Made Diplomatic 'Contacts' With Kremlin, Official Says

By AFP June 17, 2026 Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency The office of EU chief António Costa has had "brief" diplomatic contacts with the Kremlin to open channels of communication, Brussels said Wednesday, as Europe debates whether to talk to Russia about ending the Ukraine war. "In the past few weeks, brief contacts at diplomatic level were made to open communication channels but nothing was discussed on substance," an EU official said on condition of anonymity. Discussions on Europe re-engaging with Moscow have become louder amid deadlocked U.S. efforts to halt the war in Ukraine while President Donald Trump's attention has been consumed by Iran. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky — who is due to join EU leaders at a summit in Brussels Thursday — has pushed for Europe to play a more active role. "In any future scenario, the EU has specific interests that will need to be defended, therefore it is important to have established diplomatic channels with Russia," the EU official said. "The EU is not a mediator. It supports Ukraine in its efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace." The official said that European Council president Costa — who chairs meetings of EU leaders — "has been coordinating closely with European leaders on possible engagement with Russia and the issues to be discussed when the right moment comes." British, French and German ambassadors to Russia last week urged direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in a rare meeting at Russia's Foreign Ministry last Thursday. Trump at a G7 meeting involving Zelensky in France on Tuesday said Moscow should "make a deal" to end its war on Ukraine. Zelensky said Vladimir Putin had rejected an offer of a meeting at the G7 but said he had also suggested to Trump that he could meet the Russian leader in the United States. Read more about: Europe , Ukraine war , Kremlin Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Up to Each European Country to Decide on Re-Engaging With Russia, Rutte Says European leaders have debated whether to restore dialogue with Russia in recent months amid U.S.-led peace talks on the war in Ukraine. 2 Min read Ukraine's Allies Set Ultimatum to Russia for 30-Day Ceasefire The Kremlin said Moscow will "think through" the proposal, but stressed "there are lots of questions" and that Russia is "resistant to any kind of pressure... 3 Min read Feature Kremlin Eyes Grand Bargain as Trump Pushes for Rushed Ukraine Peace Deal Russian officials hope to take advantage of President Donald Trump’s eagerness to end the war in Ukraine to secure a favorable deal for itself. 4 Min read Tribunals to Prosecute Russia for Ukraine War Would Lack 'Legitimacy,' Kremlin Says Any tribunal established to prosecute alleged Russian war crimes during its invasion of Ukraine would lack “legitimacy” and would not be recognized...