On September 15 (local time), according to TASS, the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs Policy, Ms. Kaja Kallas - said that she is ready to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin or Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov if there is an opportunity, according to Finnish television and radio station Yle.
I will definitely talk to them if I have the opportunity," Kallas said.
Ms. Kallas recalled that she had met with Foreign Minister Lavrov at several international forums, including events of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Group of 20 leading developed and emerging economies (G20).
According to EU officials, in these meetings, she directly conveyed the EU's position to the Russian Foreign Minister.
However, Ms. Kallas reaffirmed that the EU currently cannot play a full intermediary role between Russia and Ukraine, as the bloc continues to support Kiev.
On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously said that President Putin affirmed that Moscow is ready to negotiate with Europe. However, Mr. Peskov said that European countries are making a mistake in trying to put themselves in a higher position than Russia. Sources quoted Mr. Peskov as saying that Russia is ready to dialogue with European countries if this approach changes towards substantive dialogue.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik recently told TASS during a working trip to China that some European representatives who have participated in financial support for the Ukrainian armed forces are seeking to participate in negotiations on Ukraine. According to Mr. Miroshnik, this could disrupt the negotiation process.
Thus, although Ms. Kallas left open the possibility of direct exchange with the Russian leader, the EU still maintains its position that the bloc cannot fully take on the role of mediator in the Russia-Ukraine negotiation process.
