Europe pushes for Ukraine envoy amid fears of US–Russia backroom deal POLITICO shares details on candidates

European governments are intensifying calls for the European Union to appoint a dedicated negotiator on Ukraine, driven by concerns that Washington could reach an understanding with Moscow without fully taking European interests into account.

According to POLITICO, which cited three diplomats and officials familiar with the discussions, France and Italy are at the forefront of the initiative and have already secured support within the European Commission and several member states.

Governments pushing the proposal argue that Europe can only uphold its core positions — including Ukraine’s prospective NATO membership — if the bloc has a formal role in ongoing diplomatic efforts.

If implemented, the appointment of such an envoy would represent a significant shift in how the EU engages with the series of bilateral negotiations being pursued by US President Donald Trump. It also comes as Europe attempts to demonstrate that it is prepared to play a substantive role in any eventual settlement to end the four-year war.

In recent weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have jointly pressed for renewed diplomatic outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior figures in his circle, even as US-led peace efforts have stalled.

A senior French official told POLITICO that, “Macron has been advocating in the last days that, in view of the bilateral discussions between the Americans and the Russians, it is important to play at least a role in the discussion. Meloni very much supported that … they’re not naive about what can be reached through these discussions, but on the balance between not engaging and engaging, there’s a growing appreciation [of the merits of engaging] in some capitals.”

Debate over scope and risks

The concept of appointing a negotiator remains contentious. Critics argue the move could signal that Moscow is negotiating in good faith despite the Kremlin’s insistence on territorial concessions from Ukraine — demands that have not shifted even as Russian forces fail to achieve battlefield objectives. Trump’s attempts to broker a deal have so far run aground on these Russian conditions.

Discussions in Brussels are ongoing about what Europe could contribute to any negotiation format and what mechanisms it might use to prevent Washington from sidelining EU concerns.

“There are some issues which cannot be discussed with [only] the U.S. when they have direct implications on our security as Europeans,” one European official said. “The message to Washington is as important as [the message] to Moscow.”

Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker said that Europe must assert itself if it wants a role in the process. “It’s been made clear Trump is going to keep up his dialog with Putin both directly and through [U.S. envoy Steve] Witkoff. That’s not going away. So you have to have your own communication if it’s going on — it’s not about being in the same room as the Americans and the Russians, it’s about having any kind of communication.”

Who would represent the EU?

The idea of an EU special envoy was first floated at a European Council summit last March, a senior EU official confirmed. While the concept received broad support, it did not advance and was omitted from the final communiqué. The initial proposal focused on establishing an envoy to represent the EU in talks alongside Kyiv — distinct from Meloni’s more recent call for an interlocutor specifically empowered to engage with Moscow.

“Countries that were supportive of a Ukraine envoy may not be supportive of an envoy to speak with Russia,” the official said.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has consistently positioned herself as the appropriate figure to speak for Europe in any future negotiations. The former Estonian prime minister, a strong advocate for Kyiv, has used her office to push for tougher sanctions and coordinated pressure on Russia.

This raises internal institutional questions. As Volker noted, “If Europe were to name a special envoy, the question is who does that person represent? Who do they report to? If it were [Commission President Ursula] von der Leyen, that sidelines Kaja Kallas and the External Action Service … but then if the envoy were placed within the action service, the level would be too low to engage with Putin directly.”

There is also disagreement over whether the envoy should represent only the EU or the broader “coalition of the willing,” which includes the United Kingdom and other non-EU partners.

Names in circulation

While no formal role exists, several potential candidates have been informally discussed. Italian minister Giovanbattista Fazzolari suggested over the weekend that former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi be appointed to the position.

In Brussels, four diplomats told POLITICO that Finnish President Alexander Stubb is also widely viewed as a plausible figure. Stubb has established rapport with Donald Trump — reportedly during golf outings — and, as leader of a country bordering Russia and targeted by Kremlin hybrid operations, brings long-standing strategic experience.

One diplomat said that using “a sitting leader” would give the individual “a bit more freedom in what they say.” But any engagement with Putin remains fraught, raising the question of whether such dialogue risks legitimising Russian positions.

For now, EU officials stress that no decision has been made. Two officials emphasised that no special envoy role formally exists, while a third remarked that “none of these jobs exist until they do.”

By Tamilla Hasanova