Costa confirms he tried to establish diplomatic contacts with Russia

European Council President António Costa has confirmed initiating discreet diplomatic contacts with the Kremlin, aiming to defend the European Union's interests and prevent the bloc from being sidelined in any future peace negotiations for the Ukraine war. The revelation, made during a contentious EU summit in Brussels on June 18, 2026, underscores a delicate balancing act by Europe as it grapples with its stance towards Moscow amidst ongoing conflict. Costa reportedly instructed his office to establish a communication channel, stressing that these were brief, technical exchanges without substantive negotiations. The move comes against a backdrop of deeply fractured EU-Russia relations, punctuated by successive EU sanctions packages—the 20th and a 'mini' package were adopted in April and June 2026, respectively, with a 21st package actively under discussion. While some EU leaders, including Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, expressed skepticism about the utility of dialogue given Russia's current posture, others like Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin supported the initiative, acknowledging the necessity for the EU to articulate its interests. President Vladimir Putin has previously indicated Russia's willingness for contacts, even while attempting to exclude Europe and Kyiv from direct negotiations with the United States. Looking ahead, Costa's diplomatic overture signals a potential shift in the EU's long-term strategy for engagement with Russia, even as it continues robust military and financial support for Ukraine and prepares further punitive measures. The internal debate over how to best defend European security interests while the Ukraine war rages on is set to intensify, testing the bloc's unity. Observers will be closely watching for any substantive follow-up to these initial contacts and how the broader European Security Strategy evolves, particularly in the run-up to the next UK-EU summit in July.