📰 Europe’s Putin Whisperer: Who Will Talk to the Bear?

The EU’s Dilemma
As Washington and Moscow edge toward backroom deals on Ukraine, Europe is scrambling to get a seat at the table. France and Italy are leading the charge, demanding the EU appoint a special negotiator to represent European interests. Their fear? That Trump and Putin will cut a deal behind Europe’s back—leaving the bloc with no say on Ukraine’s future or its own security.

“There are some issues which cannot be discussed with [only] the US when they have direct implications on our security as Europeans,”

said a senior EU official.
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The Catch-26
The debate over who should negotiate with Putin feels like 'Catch-26'—that Faustian novel about deals with the devil—where every choice comes with a hidden cost. Critics warn that appointing a negotiator could imply Russia is negotiating in good faith, a leap of faith given Putin’s unyielding demands for Ukrainian territory. Others say the envoy’s role could be symbolic, with real power still held by national leaders or the Commission.

“Countries that were supportive of a Ukraine envoy may not be supportive of an envoy to speak with Russia,”

said one EU official.
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The Candidates
Names are flying: Mario Draghi, former Italian prime minister, and Alexander Stubb, Finland’s president, are among those mentioned. But the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, is positioning herself as the obvious choice. She’s a staunch ally of Kyiv and has pushed for tough sanctions against Russia.
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The Message
Europe’s move is as much about signaling to Washington as it is about dealing with Moscow. Brussels wants to show it won’t be sidelined in any settlement. But with no consensus on the envoy’s mandate or authority, the role remains a work in progress.

“None of these jobs exist until they do,”

said a third EU official.
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