EU Weighs Angela Merkel for Russia Talks as Trump Halts Military Support for Ukraine
Updated
Updated · The Irish Times · May 17
EU Weighs Angela Merkel for Russia Talks as Trump Halts Military Support for Ukraine
9 articles · Updated · The Irish Times · May 17
EU officials are considering Angela Merkel as a possible envoy for direct talks with Russia on the Ukraine war, with foreign ministers due to discuss the idea later this month.
Putin and Trump have both signaled the war may be nearing an end, increasing pressure on the EU to decide whether to open its own channel to Moscow or risk political marginalization.
Trump’s push for Ukrainian territorial concessions and his latest withdrawal of military support have widened transatlantic strains and strengthened the case for an independent EU diplomatic role.
Merkel’s 2005-2021 tenure as German chancellor and long experience with Russia support her candidacy, but critics cite her backing for Germany’s past gas dependence on Russia.
Any EU move still faces political resistance, with Poland and the Baltic states reluctant and no clear agreement yet on whether talks should happen or what they should cover.
Amid a global energy war, can Europe negotiate Ukraine's peace from a position of strength?
With the US stepping back, can Europe truly forge its own path to peace with Russia?
Is Merkel's potential mission a masterstroke for peace or a dangerous appeasement?