Brussels, May 10 (SANA) European Council President António Costa said the European Union is open to future talks with Russia aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine, while stressing that any diplomatic efforts would be coordinated with Kyiv and aligned with broader international initiatives.
Speaking in Brussels on Europe Day, Costa said the EU is prepared to support discussions focused on reaching what he described as a “just and lasting peace,” according to the European Council website.
He said any future negotiations would eventually need to involve Russia in order to address wider European security issues, but noted there are currently no signs that Moscow is ready for serious talks with EU representatives.
Costa added that the EU would avoid taking unilateral steps that could undermine diplomatic efforts led by the United States to end the war.
The European Council president said he is consulting leaders of the bloc’s 27 member states on how to coordinate future European engagement and define the issues that could be discussed with Russia if political conditions improve.
The comments come as the war in Ukraine enters another year amid continued battlefield tensions and stalled international efforts to broker a negotiated settlement to the conflict, which began in 2022.
N.J/ABD