Russia Signals Openness to European Role in Ukraine Talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Russia increasingly understands that negotiations to end its war against Ukraine cannot happen without European participation, speaking at the European Political Community summit in Ireland on Thursday. Merz called this "good news" but noted it remains to be seen if the stance holds, adding that much depends on talks in the coming days. He stressed that bringing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table matters more than selecting Europe's candidate for Ukraine talks. French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU must develop a clear vision for peace negotiations before considering potential EU representatives. Merz also emphasized that supporting Kyiv is a pan-European obligation, though Slovakia's Robert Fico and Czechia's Andrej Babis have opposed his proposal for all EU states to cover Ukraine's financial needs.