Can EU find a Russia whisperer to mediate an end to war in Ukraine?

Ukraine is urging the EU to assistance negociate an extremity to the warfare with Russia, a taxable that volition beryllium discussed successful item astatine an informal gathering of European overseas ministers successful Cyprus.

The EU is actively considering re-engagement with Moscow implicit Ukraine arsenic US efforts to mediate person crushed to a halt and Russia steps up its deadly strikes.

Now, Ukraine's overseas curate has told the BBC that Kyiv is keen to present immoderate "new dynamics" into the dialog process.

"We request to determination to a caller format of talks with the Russian side," Andrii Sybiha said successful a caller call, suggesting "more progressive information by the European side".

Among the candidates rumoured for the relation of envoy are some erstwhile German chancellor Angela Merkel and ex-Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, but Sybiha wouldn't beryllium drawn connected immoderate names.

A spokesperson for Draghi told the BBC helium "prefers not to remark astatine this stage".

This weekend, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said helium "probably couldn't reply successful the negative" if helium were offered the task, but lone aft Russia agreed to a ceasefire.

There is nary hint of that.

Over the weekend, Kyiv was pummelled with missiles and drones successful 1 of the astir aggravated attacks of the warfare truthful acold and Moscow has since threatened "systematic strikes" connected the city, informing foreigners to permission and locals to beware.

Even arsenic it escalates its aggression, Russia is accusing the EU of encouraging Kyiv militarily and truthful undermining US bid efforts.

So it's hard to spot it engaging with the Europeans successful immoderate meaningful way.

Russia prefers to speech to the US, partially for reasons of presumption and partially due to the fact that President Donald Trump's envoys person been profoundly unchallenging, pressuring Kyiv acold much than Moscow.

Their attack has failed, and past week Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was not funny successful hosting "an endless rhythm of meetings that pb to nothing". He has since clarified that the US remains acceptable to mediate "if that accidental presents itself".

Now the EU is looking to articulation the effort and guarantee that immoderate deal, if ever done, is the champion for some Ukraine and European security.

Vladimir Putin claims helium is unfastened to the thought arsenic agelong arsenic whoever is appointed "has not said each sorts of nasty things astir us".

His ain proposition for an EU envoy, though, was German ex-chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a adjacent state of Moscow and long-time lobbyist for its interests.

The EU's overseas argumentation main Kaja Kallas rejected the thought immediately: Schröder, she said, would beryllium "sitting connected some sides of the table".

The two-day gathering that opens successful Cyprus connected Wednesday volition let ministers to acceptable retired their countries' stalls with much state than a ceremonial summit.

Since Russia's full-scale penetration successful 2022, astir person pursued a argumentation of isolation and sanctions, and not each hold connected the contented of initiating adjacent constricted contacts.

Some, similar Sweden and Lithuania, spot Russia arsenic squeezed present and privation the unit accrued not eased. Others, similar Italy, reason that it's unwise to enactment connected the sidelines immoderate longer.

In March, Kallas circulated immoderate starting points for discussion, described by 1 EU authoritative arsenic "food for thought". Her extremity is to formulate a associated EU presumption regarding Russia – and acceptable immoderate reddish lines – earlier initiating contact.

Whilst the thought of appointing an envoy, possibly adjacent a radical of them, volition beryllium floated successful Cyprus, superior treatment would lone hap astatine the level of EU leaders, perchance astatine their acme adjacent month.

Meanwhile, Ukraine wants to "break the deadlock" and is pushing for progress, the EU authoritative said.

"This indispensable not go a prolonged process focused lone connected discussions astir who should represent, however galore people, and what format. No. This indispensable hap quickly," Sybiha warned.

In Kyiv, expert Yaroslav Smovzh believes that engaging with Moscow is "doomed" unless the EU comes from a presumption of strength.

"There is simply a consciousness that Europe has somewhat mislaid its consciousness of bureau successful planetary affairs, particularly regarding specified an important large-scale warfare successful Europe," says Smovzh, from the Adastra deliberation tank.

"But if Europe wants to enactment arsenic an autarkic and neutral intermediary it volition not output immoderate results, conscionable similar the US did not execute immoderate success," helium says, arguing that Russia needs to "be intimidated".

"So acold Europe's effect to Russia's behaviour successful its [own] territory has been somewhat unconvincing."

As the EU talks astir talks, Ukraine has been expanding the unit connected its neighbour itself with repeated heavy strikes connected Russian lipid export facilities. It calls them its "long-range sanctions", and Moscow's latest large-scale attacks connected Ukraine amusement that it's rattled.

That doesn't mean superior negotiations for bid are astir the corner.

"There are nary signals that Russia wants to extremity this war," MP Ehor Chernev from Ukraine's ruling Servants of the People enactment says.

But arsenic US involvement successful pursuing that extremity has waned helium believes "new vigor tin beryllium brought to this process" from Europe.

"They volition correspond the EU, which intelligibly understands the menace from Russia," the MP says.