Estonia’s PM: Europe does not need a new Ukraine negotiator

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Europe does not need a new representative at negotiations on Ukraine, backing Kaja Kallas and António Costa. He said Putin has no right to choose Europe’s negotiators.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Europe does not need a new special representative at negotiations on a settlement in Ukraine. He made the remarks to AFP ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Dublin.

Michal backed EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and European Council President António Costa, rejecting concerns in several European capitals that Kallas is too critical of Moscow. “It is not for Putin to choose,” the Estonian prime minister stressed, referring to Europe’s negotiators.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas (2025)

Divisions in Europe

As negotiations mediated by the United States intensify, divisions have emerged in Europe not only over its approach to Moscow but also over who should represent the continent. Some capitals proposed putting forward an envoy more acceptable to Russia.

Moscow, meanwhile, has questioned the status of European representatives. Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky said after Abu Dhabi that he did not understand what there was to negotiate with Europeans.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)