# Europe hunts for Putin's negotiator

> As Trump talks directly with Russia, European leaders debate who should represent their interests in Ukraine peace negotiations.
- Title: Europe hunts for Putin's negotiator · POLITICO | Shortify
- Summary: As Trump talks directly with Russia, European leaders debate who should represent their interests in Ukraine peace negotiations. European governments are…
- Keywords: ukraine, russia, putin, europe, peace negotiations, donald trump, volodymyr zelenskyy, alexander stubb, petr pavel, european union, politics, world
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/talking-to-vladimir-putin-europe-seeks-a-negotiator-in-chief-for-ukraine
- Published: 2026-10-21T19:53:50+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: ukraine, russia, putin, europe, peace negotiations, donald trump, volodymyr zelenskyy, alexander stubb, petr pavel, european union, politics, world
## Europe seeks a Putin negotiator
European governments are realizing they may need to nominate someone to negotiate directly with Vladimir Putin on a Ukraine peace deal. The main challenge is deciding who.
## Trump's envoy raises the stakes
U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia this week to offer Putin a three-way summit with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to press for a ceasefire.
## Putin ignores EU leadership
Czech President Petr Pavel said Putin disregards the European Union as an authority and refuses to talk to Ursula von der Leyen, Kaja Kallas or Emmanuel Macron.

> President Putin disregards the European Union as an authority. He doesn't want to talk to Ursula von der Leyen, he doesn't talk to Kaja Kallas.
## Pavel's call for a mandate
Pavel said the EU should identify a person or group given a mandate to negotiate for Europe, not necessarily EU or NATO representatives but simply leaders authorized to speak.

> identify a person or a group of people who would speak for Europe. Not necessarily representatives of the EU or NATO, but simply leaders who would be given a mandate by the others to negotiate.
## Trump talks over Europe's head
Trump has dismayed Ukraine and European allies by negotiating directly with Putin and appearing increasingly willing to take Russia's side in the almost five-year war.
## The case for a Kremlin channel
David Lidington of the Royal United Services Institute said Europe should have a direct line to the Kremlin to safeguard regional interests and bolster Ukraine's negotiating position.

> Much as it sticks in the craw, I do think a channel of some kind to Putin would be a good thing to have.
## Stubb emerges as frontrunner
Alexander Stubb, president of Finland, is gaining attention as a potential negotiator. He has the best relationship with Trump among EU leaders and Finland shares a 1,300 kilometre border with Russia.
## Costa urged to contact Putin
European leaders asked António Costa, president of the European Council, whether he should talk to Putin. Costa declined, but diplomats say he should start if Europe wants a negotiating role.
## EU insists it's already present
The European Commission says the EU is already at the table through Bjoern Seibert, von der Leyen's top aide, who attended talks in Oslo on Tuesday with Zelenskyy and Witkoff.
## Witkoff to brief Europe after Moscow
Witkoff is expected to debrief Ukraine and European leaders after his trip to meet Putin. The talks in Oslo focused on territory, security and post-war prosperity for Ukraine.
## Key takeaway

European governments are seeking a single negotiator to represent them in direct talks with Putin over Ukraine, fearing Trump may cut deals that harm European interests.