Should the EU maintain diplomatic channels with Russia?

The Prime Minister recalled his previous statement, in which he asserted that diplomatic channels with Russia are meaningless as long as Moscow rejects diplomacy. “There must be clear signals that Russia is ready for this. Today, there are no such signs,” he said.

The issue of relations with Russia was discussed among European leaders on Thursday. Kulbergs added that no member state should maintain trade relations with Moscow. “I know this is very difficult because the economy is feeling the impact of the war. It is hard to balance everything, but we must maintain economic growth and competitiveness in Europe,” the Prime Minister stated.

Andris Kulbergs has held the office of Prime Minister of Latvia since May of this year. The previous government of Evika Siliņa collapsed as a result of repeated incidents involving Ukrainian drones falling on the country’s territory.

Discussions are ongoing within the Union regarding Europe’s involvement in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Due to the conflict in the Middle East, talks in the Ukraine-US-Russia format have reached a stalemate. During Thursday’s talks in Brussels, President of the European Council António Costa confirmed brief diplomatic contacts with the Kremlin. Costa reportedly asked his associates to open a diplomatic channel with Russia. “The goal was to be ready to defend EU interests when the right moment arrives. We are talking about brief contacts without the exchange of substantive information or negotiations,” explained an EU diplomat. Several leaders, including the Prime Minister of Ireland, are in favor of choosing Costa as the Union’s representative for such talks.

It is in the interest of the European Union to have its own representation during potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. EU member states have invested a vast amount of money and military equipment in Ukraine and thus should have a say when a peace plan is decided on. Participation in negotiations requires diplomatic channels with the aggressor. For now, all contacts with the Russian Federation should not be severed while at the same time Moscow should be pressured more and more.