Zelensky: ‘Europe cannot be just a mediator’ in negotiations with Russia

Vladimir Zelensky has stated that European countries must take direct part in the negotiation process with Russia rather than acting as neutral mediators.

The statement was made at the Northern Baltic Eight summit, according to RIA Novosti.

“Europe must be present during any negotiations. Europe cannot be just a mediator, because Europe is on our side,” Zelensky said.

In his view, European states are not capable of serving as neutral mediators, since that would require them to take an impartial stance, including on the question of imposing restrictive measures against Russia.

Against this backdrop, calls for resuming dialogue with the Russian side have been growing louder within the European Union, accompanied by a debate over potential candidates for the role of mediator. Vladimir Putin previously expressed the opinion that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder could be a suitable figure for such a mission. However, the proposal was met with a mixed reception in European capitals: alongside some supporters of the candidacy, there were many critics of the idea.

Donald Trump, for his part, expressed support for the candidacy of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem as a mediator on Ukraine.