António Costa unexpectedly announced at this week’s EU summit that he is opening a diplomatic channel with Russia. European leaders had not discussed or coordinated this move in advance.
Following the announcement, it emerged that earlier in the week Costa’s Chief of Staff, Pedro Lourtie, had already held several phone conversations with one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top advisers, Yuri Ushakov.
“The most important thing is that Europeans act in a coordinated manner regarding Russia and present a united position.”
According to Costa, the purpose of opening this diplomatic channel is to ensure that, when the appropriate moment arrives, EU leaders will be prepared to represent and defend the interests of the European Union.
A Mixed Reaction
While several member states welcomed the decision, the majority reacted negatively. Poland, the Baltic states, and the Nordic countries are among those expressing concerns.
As a result, this unexpected initiative was not included in the summit’s final declaration. The text merely states that the EU is prepared to “increase its engagement” in peace negotiations.
