Eastern Europe Demands a Voice in Russia Talks

Eastern European EU members are frustrated over being excluded from Western-led talks with Russia about the war in Ukraine, demanding a unified European voice in negotiations. Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Norway's PM Jonas Gahr Støre drew criticism for independently calling Vladimir Putin. Italy's Giorgia Meloni urged EU Council President António Costa to add the issue to Friday's Dublin summit agenda, with Costa, EU foreign chief Kaja Kallas, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen all considered potential lead negotiators. Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned against Western Europe dealing with Russia over Eastern Europe's heads. No Eastern European officials attended recent US-Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi, where only Western security advisers were present. A former Russian spy suggested Meloni's charisma and unpredictability could make her an effective interlocutor with Putin.