Antonio Costa Rules Out EU Mediation Role in Ukraine Peace Talks

Costa’s remarks come amid internal friction among EU member states regarding how to manage ongoing relations with the Kremlin. Despite establishing a direct diplomatic channel through his office, the Council President insisted this move is not intended to facilitate mediation. Instead, he described the effort as a necessity for the EU to interpret Russian intentions independently rather than relying on third-party accounts.

Addressing the current geopolitical stalemate, Costa noted that there are currently no credible indicators that Moscow is prepared to engage in substantive peace talks. By maintaining these communication lines, the EU aims to ensure its own positions are conveyed directly to the Kremlin while continuing to support Ukraine’s defensive efforts.