Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Commission has stated that it is too soon to discuss the potential involvement of EU representatives in future high-level talks with the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, as the time, format, and logistics have not yet been determined, Interfax news agency reported.
US President Donald Trump indicated that he was hopeful there could be a path toward ending the war in Ukraine, and added that upon his meeting on or about August 6, 2025, with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and then followed by a potential meeting very soon afterwards with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Will the EU join the US-Russia-Ukraine negotiations on the war?
“As for these possible trilateral peace talks, the timing, the format, the logistics are still to be clarified, so it is still too early to say exactly what will happen. If and when additional information becomes available, we will of course be happy to share it with you,”
European Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta stated, adding that the Brussels “supports a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, and our commitments to this have not changed in any way.”
Who briefed von der Leyen on Ukraine talks?
She stated that President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen did not participate in the telephone calls, but she was elaborately updated by other leaders of EU member states, who Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had relevant telephone calls. Podesta did not identify the leaders, saying she “can only confirm that several EU leaders have thoroughly briefed her.”
“Other leaders, as well as Commission officials, are engaged in negotiations and contacts at other levels as we speak, both with European and Ukrainian partners,”
the EC spokeswoman stated.
She emphasised that as of today, “there has been no request and no decision on the format.”
“We have already said that the format, the timing, the logistics are completely unclear at this stage. They are still being discussed,”
she added.
How is the EU supporting Ukraine’s peace efforts?
EU Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Anita Hipper reiterated her well-known position when asked by journalists about the negotiations that took place on Wednesday at the Kremlin between Vladimir Putin and US President’s representative Stephen Witkoff.
“First of all, no one wants peace more than Ukraine and the EU. It is quite obvious that Russia is not interested in any peace as such because we have seen this in their actions, not in words.”
The spokesperson further said:
“In view of this, of course, we welcome any pressure when it comes to ensuring Russia’s presence at the negotiating table. We welcome any work aimed at achieving a sustainable ceasefire. For our part, the EU supports Ukraine throughout the process. We also work with all our international partners to ensure that Ukraine is as strong as possible on the battlefield so that it can be as strong at the negotiating table as possible.”
