Costa Defends Russia Back Channel at 27-Nation EU Summit as Leaders Bristle
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 18
Costa Defends Russia Back Channel at 27-Nation EU Summit as Leaders Bristle
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 18
Summary
Antonio Costa told EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday that his recent contacts with Moscow were useful groundwork and that he was well placed to convey the bloc’s interests.
The defense came after frustration spread among numerous member states over his diplomatic outreach to Russia, which Bloomberg reported a day earlier.
The dispute surfaced during an EU summit attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscoring the sensitivity of any direct channel to the Kremlin.
Costa’s intervention highlights strains inside the 27-nation bloc over how to manage communication with Russia while maintaining support for Ukraine.