Peskov: anyone can talk to Russia, the key is the desire for dialogue

Moscow is ready to hold talks with any representative of the European side — the main condition being the existence of political will to restore dialogue.

This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The comment was made to the RIA Novosti agency in connection with the discussion of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as a possible mediator in negotiations between Europe and Russia.

“Right now you could read tea leaves and list every well-known name. Anyone can do it — the main thing is that there be a political desire to restore dialogue,” Peskov said.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Europe has the right to choose any leader it trusts for negotiations, provided that the person has not “said anything nasty” about Russia. Putin also named former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as his personally “preferred” candidate. Peskov explained that Putin mentioned Schröder because he “knows this politician well, and he is now a retired politician.”

When asked whether Moscow had received any response from Europeans regarding Schröder’s candidacy, Peskov answered in the negative.

Within Germany’s ruling coalition, there is a view that Schröder is unlikely to be able to handle the role of mediator on his own, but that a “mediation duo” between him and Steinmeier could be “an interesting option” — according to sources cited by Der Spiegel.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas holds a different position: in her view, allowing Russia to choose the negotiator on the EU’s side is “not very wise,” since in that case Schröder would be sitting “on both sides of the table.”