EU leaders clash over secret Russia contacts

At a European Council summit in Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron and German politician Friedrich Merz sharply criticised EU Council President Antonio Costa for arranging private telephone contacts with Russian officials. Costa’s office disclosed that its chief of staff Pedro Lourtie had spoken with Moscow several times in recent weeks, describing the calls as brief, technical exchanges meant to keep a communication channel open.

The revelations, revealed to other EU leaders only through media reports, triggered a split among European capitals. The “E3” bloc – France, Germany and the United Kingdom – argued that the timing is unsuitable for negotiations with Russia and that any future talks should be led by the major powers, not the EU as an institution. A larger group of leaders defended Costa’s role, insisting that the EU’s own mechanisms should represent Europe in any diplomatic outreach.

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov denounced the initiative as “diplomacy used as a cover for expansionist ambitions” and warned of a possible nuclear response if Europe pursues direct engagement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky affirmed Ukraine’s readiness to negotiate with President Vladimir Putin, while stressing the need for coordinated European action.

The episode underscores deep divisions within the EU over how to handle diplomatic channels with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.