As U.S. President Donald Trump asserts that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy — not Russian President Vladimir Putin — is the main obstacle to a peace deal ending the nearly four-year war, some European leaders are stepping up calls for the European Union to play a more direct role in negotiations, including through dialogue with Moscow.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has emerged as a vocal advocate for this shift, urging Europe to reopen channels with Russia and appoint a special envoy to handle talks with Putin and his inner circle in a coordinated way. Speaking at her traditional New Year’s press conference in Rome on January 9, Meloni said, “I believe the time has come for Europe to also speak with Russia,” adding that she agreed with French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent push for engagement.
Meloni warned that without a unified approach, Europe risks “doing Putin a favor” through disorganized or piecemeal dialogue. “If we were to make the mistake of deciding, on the one hand, to reopen dialogue with Russia, and on the other, to proceed in a disorganised way, we would be doing Putin a favour,” she stated. She emphasized the need for a special envoy to ensure Europe speaks with “one voice” and avoids confusion that could limit its influence.
This stance aligns with broader discussions within the EU, where governments are pressuring Brussels to create a special negotiator role focused on representing European interests in Ukraine-related talks. According to reporting from Politico, the proposed envoy would aim to prevent Europe from being sidelined by bilateral U.S.-Russia discussions under Trump.
France and Italy are leading the charge, with Macron and Meloni joining forces in recent weeks to advocate for diplomatic channels to Putin. A senior French official told Politico: “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.”
The idea traces back to an EU summit in March 2025, where a special envoy focused on supporting Ukraine was first discussed, though it was not included in public conclusions. The concept has since evolved amid concerns over U.S.-led efforts, which have centered on security guarantees for post-war Ukraine and, in broad terms, pushing Kyiv to abandon its eastern Donbas region as part of any accord.
Trump, in an exclusive Reuters interview published January 14, described Putin as “ready to make a deal” while saying Ukraine is “less ready” and directly attributing delays to Zelenskiy: “Zelenskiy.” He added that the Ukrainian leader is “having a hard time getting there.” This rhetoric contrasts sharply with longstanding European views that Moscow shows little genuine interest in ending the invasion.
The push for an EU envoy reflects fears in some capitals that Trump’s direct dialogue with Putin — including through U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff — could exclude Europe from decisions with major security implications. Supporters argue the role would help maintain Europe’s “red lines,” such as Ukraine’s potential path to NATO membership.
Discussions remain informal, with no formal role yet created. Anonymous diplomats and officials told Politico that support exists in the European Commission and among a handful of countries, but institutional questions persist: Who would the envoy report to? Would it involve direct talks with Moscow, or remain focused on backing Kyiv?
Names like former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have been floated informally — an idea endorsed by Meloni ally and Italian government minister Giovanbattista Fazzolari — while others mention Finnish President Alexander Stubb for his ties to both Trump and Russia’s border region.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas has also consistently positioned herself as the only suitable candidate for any negotiations over Ukraine’s future, leveraging her role as a steadfast ally of Kyiv to advocate for stronger sanctions against Russia. However, institutional questions loom.
Former U.S. Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker, quoted in the Politico report, urged Europe to be assertive: “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.”
While Meloni and Macron frame engagement as pragmatic and non-naive, the proposal has sparked debate. Critics worry it could signal to Moscow that Russia is negotiating in good faith, potentially legitimizing territorial demands. EU officials have stressed that no such position exists yet, and candidate talk is premature.
As U.S.-led negotiations continue — with fits and starts over security guarantees and territorial issues — Meloni’s push highlights growing European unease about being left on the sidelines. Whether Brussels moves forward with a special envoy could signal a broader recalibration of transatlantic dynamics in the search for peace in Ukraine.
