Key facts
- Envoys from France, Germany, and the UK met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in Moscow.
- Russia accused the European nations of pursuing a destructive policy regarding the Ukraine war.
- The French ambassador described the talks as 'good' and anticipated a joint statement.
- The meeting occurred after E3 leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London to discuss peace and security.
Ambassadors from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in Moscow on Thursday. During the meeting, Russia's Foreign Ministry stated that Galuzin presented an 'objective assessment of the destructive policy pursued by their countries' leaderships regarding the Ukrainian crisis,' which it claims is aimed at encouraging Kyiv to continue the war with Western assistance.
Galuzin also explained Russia's fundamental approaches to achieving a political and diplomatic settlement based on addressing the conflict's root causes. The French ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere, described the discussion as 'good' and indicated that the trio would release a statement later.
The meeting took place after the leaders of France, Germany, and the UK met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London on Sunday. At that gathering, the E3 and Zelensky agreed that the current line of contact between Russian and Ukrainian forces should serve as the starting point for talks. They also discussed legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine, including the potential deployment of a multinational force, and the continued immobilisation of frozen Russian financial assets until Moscow compensates Kyiv for war damages.