European Council President António Costa confirmed on 19 June that his office has established a direct diplomatic channel with Moscow, a move that provoked sharp criticism from several EU leaders during a two-day summit in Brussels. The contacts, described by EU officials as brief and non-substantive, were intended to prepare for potential future negotiations over Ukraine, but the lack of prior coordination with member states led to what German government sources called an 'affront' and 'unprofessional' behaviour.

Costa defended the initiative, arguing that the EU 'cannot rely only on others to interpret Russian messages' and must be able to convey its own positions directly. He insisted the bloc is not seeking a mediator role and that only Ukraine can negotiate on its own behalf. Spain, Ireland, Italy and Austria were among the countries that backed the outreach, viewing it as a necessary preparatory step. However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron led the opposition, contending that the so-called E3 format – comprising Germany, France and the United Kingdom – is the appropriate vehicle for European diplomacy with Russia, having been convened at Kyiv's explicit request. Merz stressed that it was 'far too early' to decide who would speak for the EU, while Baltic and Nordic states voiced concerns that engaging Moscow now could weaken pressure on the Kremlin.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, signalled conditional openness to dialogue. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that 'common sense dictates the need for such contacts' given the multitude of complex issues, but he dismissed the European assumption that negotiations could be conducted from a position of strength and based on Russia's weakness as 'the biggest mistake'. Moscow would be ready for talks, he said, only if European forces emerged that understood the need for genuine dialogue 'without moralising or ultimatums'. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mocked Costa's proposal for a new channel, pointing out that EU ambassadors are already present in Moscow. President Vladimir Putin has previously suggested former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a potential EU envoy, an idea rejected in Brussels.

The dispute lays bare a structural tension within the EU over external representation. While Costa's supporters cite his treaty-based role as the natural representative of the Union's interests, the E3 countries argue that their substantial military and financial contributions to Ukraine give them a leading voice. The debate has gained urgency as US-led mediation efforts have stalled and Washington's attention has shifted to the conflict with Iran. No decision was reached at the summit on a single negotiator, and the dossier remains open. Further discussions are expected, with Merz planning to expand the format to include Poland and Italy in an E5 meeting in Berlin. For now, the EU remains without a unified approach to direct communication with Moscow, even as the question of a future peace settlement looms.