Kremlin: Putin open to talks with Europe

MOSCOW/BRUSSELS — Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to negotiations with Europe, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

Peskov said it was positive that European countries were discussing the need to identify representatives for possible talks with Russia, though no concrete steps have been taken so far.

The possibility of dialogue with Europe would depend on the resumption of the Ukrainian peace process following the current pause in negotiations, he said.

On Thursday, European Union foreign ministers debated their terms for any possible talks with Russia. They were gathering informally in Cyprus to discuss their strategy as Ukraine pushes for more European involvement to help end the conflict.

"Before we talk to the Russians, we should agree and talk among ourselves what we want to talk to the Russians about," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

Speculation over potential envoys has picked up, with Putin suggesting former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could fit the bill. The idea has been roundly rejected in Europe.

"Negotiations are always a team effort," Kallas said at the meeting. "So that is why the substance is much more important than who."

Some ministers pushed to designate a representative, including Austria's Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, who argued that "this is very much what Ukraine expects: that the EU should now get ready".

Meinl-Reisinger said she would be "pressing for the European Union to position itself, to be able to negotiate beyond its own interests, and to appoint a chief negotiator".

Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said her country's President Alexander Stubb could be a good option, while Luxembourg's top diplomat Xavier Bettel said he would float the name of ex-EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

No consensus

Diplomats told Reuters ahead of Thursday's meeting that no decisions were expected in Cyprus, and that there was no consensus on European preconditions or demands for Moscow. Some officials also said they felt it was too early to discuss the question of an envoy.

Many ministers stressed the need for Europe to find a common position on how to approach possible future talks.

"What's important more than talking about the special envoy ... is that it has to be one voice," Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told reporters.

Agencies - Xinhua