EU Reverses Course: Will Discuss Russia-Ukraine Talks in Cyprus
EU foreign ministers plan to explore preliminary conditions for dialogue with Russia during their informal May Cyprus meeting, emphasizing a ceasefire, with decisions deferred to June summits.
According to a diplomatic source in Brussels, EU countries will begin discussions on the possibility of negotiations with Russia at the informal Gymnasium of Foreign Ministers scheduled for May 27-28 in Cyprus. The central topic will be the list of European conditions for the start of such talks, while no decision is expected at this stage.
The ministers will attempt for the first time to examine whether it is feasible to open channels of dialogue. According to the same source, the priority is to formulate a common list of demands for the Russian side before any further action.
No concrete results are expected from the Cyprus meeting. The discussion will continue at the regular Foreign Ministers’ session on June 15 and then at the EU Summit on June 18-19.
The diplomat avoided giving details about the content of the European demands. However, he noted that the most obvious and immediate condition set by the EU is an immediate and lasting ceasefire.
