DISINFO: European leaders are lining up for talks with Putin, simulating they want peace
SUMMARY
Europeans are falling behind schedule and struggling to keep pace, which is why they now want to resort to a tactic that has worked before: simulating a peace process in order to buy time. European leaders are lining up for talks with Putin and competing over who is worthy of representing Europe in the Russian president’s eyes.
Among the self-appointed would-be interlocutors with Putin are some rather amusing characters. For example, the Finnish President Stubb. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who largely obtained her current position because of her Russophobic stance and personally led campaigns against “heretics” advocating a constructive approach toward Russia, now also wants to speak with Putin. She claims she would be better than her colleagues at “recognising Putin’s traps.”
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing the European Union of a warmongering position and attempts to hamper the US-Russia dialogue.
This claim was made in the context of Vladimir Putin's statement on May 9 that the more than four-year-old war was “coming to an end”.
The claim clearly distorts the facts and statements of the European leaders, while there is indeed an expectation (see here, here or here) that the EU will nominate a mediator for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
The Finnish President Stubb indeed spoke about the possibility of European talks with Russia – according to him, “if US policy towards Russia and Ukraine does not serve Europe's interests, then we ourselves must engage in direct talks”. Stubb emphasised that any contact should be coordinated among European states, including the E5 and Nordic-Baltic countries.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission stated that:
"…I have to say, I think I could see through the traps that Russia is presenting. But of course, we are not there in entering the negotiations in any way right now. We do not see that Russia is really negotiating in good faith at all. And first we have the discussion with the Member States on what we want to see Russia conceding as well."
The EU has repeatedly stated the principles that should lead to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine:
a) there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine;
b) there can be no negotiations that affect European security without Europe’s involvement. Ukraine’s, Europe’s, transatlantic and global security are intertwined;
c) any truce or ceasefire can only take place as part of the process leading to a comprehensive peace agreement;
d) any such agreement needs to be accompanied by robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine that contribute to deterring future Russian aggression;
e) peace must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
More related cases: The EU is systematically sabotaging peace negotiations; The EU is blocking Russia's honest efforts for peace in Ukraine; EU support for Ukraine is an obstacle to peace; The EU diplomacy’s vision for peace in Ukraine illustrates its Russophobia; EU peacekeepers would defend the Kyiv Nazi regime rather than uphold peace.