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Germany and France have called for a new EU strategy to build a closer relationship with Russia based on talks with Moscow in the wake of a Geneva summit with US President Vladimir Biden on Vladimir Putin.
Diplomats said German Chancellor Angela Merkel wanted the EU to invite the Russian president to a summit with EU leaders, and the initiative was backed by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ambassadors representing Berlin and Paris misrepresented other EU capitals at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, making new proposals for relations with the Kremlin, according to people familiar with the discussions.
However, in recent days Merkel has consulted closely with European allies, with Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi both visiting Berlin for talks. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blink has also been in the city this week to discuss with the government.
Initial discussions between EU and Kremlin officials have already taken place over a number of proposals, including the feasibility of a summit in which Putin will attend. The Kremlin did not respond to the FT’s request for comment.
That is Germany The summit of Biden-Putin It provides a template for restoring relations with Russia. Merkel meets with Putin regularly and spoke to him on the phone earlier in the week, but advocates finding a format for the EU to speak with one voice to Russia.
“Despite the arguments, we need to keep the channels of communication open so that we can clearly state our positions and interests and then find a solution,” Merkel said before meeting with Blinken on Wednesday.
EU summits with Putin have been suspended since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
The proposed new expansion for Moscow is likely to worry some EU member states, such as the Baltic states and Poland, which are side by side with Russia and want to take a tougher line with the Kremlin.
The Franco-German initiative said Moscow came soon after throw warning shots including bombs on a British warship in the Black Sea near Crimea. The UK has denied firing and believed that “the Russians were carrying out artillery exercise”.
EU leaders touched on the future of Russian relations at the May summit and called on the European Commission to make proposals to move forward. But the draft Franco-German text is much more compatible than last week’s committee analysis.negative spiral”EU-Russia relations and the need to tackle“ evil deeds ”.
The proposed wording to member states, which if adopted this week would be part of the summit’s conclusions, reaffirmed the EU’s willingness to work with the EU to “achieve a selective commitment” to Russia in areas of common interest.
It encourages the Commission and EU diplomatic services to develop “specific proposals and levers” for this. Topics would include climate, environment, Arctic, cross-border cooperation, health, space, the fight against terrorism and policy areas including Syria and Iran.
“In this regard, the Council of Europe calls for a review of the format of the dialogue with Russia, including meetings at the leadership level,” the proposed draft says.
The text also stresses the need for the EU to respond in a coordinated manner to Russia’s “evil activities”, calling on Brussels to gather options for possible economic sanctions.
The proposal came one day when Merkel spoke to Putin in a call to mark the 80th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
During the call, according to the Kremlin, “it was stated that overcoming hostility and reconciliation between the Russian and German peoples was of paramount importance for the future of post-war Europe, and that security on our common continent is now possible only through joint efforts.”
“The parties agreed on more personal relations,” the Kremlin added.
A top EU diplomat said the Franco-German initiative had caused a “stench” among members of EU countries, and expressed frustration with the last-minute intervention on the eve of the headline. “This is not the way to handle things,” the diplomat said.
Another official from the Member States said the intervention was “not very helpful” and a third said the unexpected move was “still being studied”. An EU official said the bloc would “reflect” ahead of the summit, which will begin on Thursday evening.
Additional report by Guy Chazan in Berlin and Victor Mallet in Paris
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