ROME, October 26. /TASS/. After years of confrontation with Russia, the European Union is now urgently seeking a way to secure a place at the negotiating table for talks on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, the Italian news portal L’AntiDiplomatico reported on Sunday.
"How has it come to pass that one of the world’s largest economic powers now finds itself having to ask for a seat at the negotiating table in a military conflict that directly affects its own security?" the portal’s columnist asked.
According to the report, Brussels has spent recent years tightening sanctions on Russia and providing military and financial assistance to Ukraine in an effort to isolate Moscow politically. Yet the EU is now being forced to "desperately seek diplomatic channels with the very government with which it had vowed never to normalize relations," the publication noted.
Politico previously reported that EU member states are concerned about their role in potential negotiations on Ukraine and are seeking a representative capable of advancing the bloc’s interests. According to The Telegraph, potential candidates include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Czech President Petr Pavel, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Moscow has repeatedly expressed its readiness to engage in dialogue with European countries on the continent’s security architecture, taking into account the interests of all parties.
On October 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to questions from Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin, endorsed the US position that discussions on future security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia should also address the broader European security architecture.
Russia will closely monitor developments over the coming days, Putin added.