Key facts
- European Council President António Costa is facing criticism from some EU leaders.
- The criticism stems from his chief of staff's unannounced contact with Russian officials.
- Some diplomats view the move as a misstep that could jeopardize Costa's re-election and budget negotiations.
- French and German leaders privately expressed unhappiness with the outreach.
- Costa's office maintains the contact was to open a communication channel with Russia.
European Council President António Costa is facing significant criticism from some EU leaders following his chief of staff's unannounced contact with Russian officials. This move has surprised many and broken years of diplomatic silence between the EU and Moscow, occurring at a critical juncture for Costa, who is tasked with negotiating the bloc's next seven-year budget and is seeking support for a potential re-election.
Diplomats, speaking anonymously, expressed discontent, with some comparing Costa's actions to those of his predecessor, Charles Michel, who was criticized for overstepping his mandate. While leaders like Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Belgian politician Bart De Wever publicly defended Costa, behind-the-scenes sentiment revealed palpable annoyance. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal deemed the move "misguided," and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated it was not the appropriate time for negotiations with Putin.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were reportedly unhappy with the outreach. Costa's office insisted the contact was not an attempt to initiate negotiations but to establish a communication channel for potential future peace talks. The controversy could impact Costa's prospects for a second term and his ability to broker a deal on the approximately €2 trillion EU budget, especially with key elections looming in 2027.
Despite the criticism, some believe Costa still has political capital. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico publicly backed Costa's initiative, highlighting a division among leaders. While the affair caused delays in summit discussions, many diplomats cautioned against exaggerating its impact on Costa's political survival, noting that most countries are aligned on acting in Ukraine's best interest.