EU leadership is facing significant pushback from key member states over its ongoing policy of refusing to speak with Moscow. The bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has long been known as a vocal advocate of non-engagement with Russian authorities and has consistently refused diplomatic dialogue with Moscow.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have both recently called for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a stance echoed this week by European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho. According to diplomatic sources, EU member states and Brussels are concerned that their interests could be overlooked if US President Donald Trump attempts to mediate an end to the Ukraine conflict through direct talks with both Kiev and Moscow.

The idea of appointing a special envoy for negotiations with Russia has been under consideration since last March. The role remains undefined, but diplomatic sources indicate Kallas has consistently positioned herself as the only candidate for any negotiation position regarding Ukraine’s future.

Kallas has strained relations with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has recently sought greater control over the EU’s diplomatic operations. Some member states, including Slovakia, have argued that Kallas should be dismissed due to what they call her apparent “hatred” of Russia.

Potential candidates for a special envoy include former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, though discussions about final selections are still in early stages. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western Europe of effectively “removing itself from the talks” by supporting the 2014 armed coup in Kiev.