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Why Europe failed to find a superhero to take on Putin
POLITICO.eu • • world
Key Points:
- European leaders decided to have a team, the “E5” plus EU Commission and Council officials, represent Europe in Ukraine peace talks instead of a single representative, responding to Ukraine’s request for a unified European voice.
- Current negotiations are at a technical level involving senior officials, not top political leaders, indicating that political leadership involvement will come later if progress is made.
- Structural complexities within Europe, including differing roles of the EU, NATO, and member states, make it impractical for one person to represent all European interests in the talks.
- The main negotiation topic is Europe’s security architecture, with Russia seeking to discuss a new regional security framework, but sequencing and content of these discussions remain contentious among European countries.
- There is uncertainty about Europe’s role and timing in the talks, with mixed signals from EU officials and questions about whether direct engagement with Russia’s Putin is appropriate or feasible.
