Key facts
- The EU stated Russia is not showing willingness to pursue a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
- U.S. envoys visited Moscow and Kyiv for peace talks.
- The EU believes maintaining pressure through support and sanctions is the best incentive for Russia.
- Representatives from France, Germany, and the U.K. attended the talks in Kyiv.
- President Zelensky emphasized Europe's importance in peace negotiations.
The European Union has indicated that Russia is not demonstrating a willingness to engage in serious peace negotiations with Ukraine. European Commission spokespeople stated on September 8 that Moscow has shown no inclination to pursue a just and lasting peace, with chief spokesperson Paula Pinho emphasizing this lack of willingness. This assessment follows a new round of U.S.-led diplomacy, which included visits by U.S. peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow on September 5 and to Kyiv on September 6.
European Commission foreign policy spokesperson Christian Wigand noted that Russia continues to escalate and asserted that Europe must maintain pressure on Moscow through continued support for Ukraine and the implementation of sanctions. He described this as the most effective incentive to bring Russia to the negotiating table in good faith. Despite these remarks, the Commission welcomed the fact that the talks had taken place.
Representatives from France, Germany, and the U.K. (the E3) attended the meeting in Kyiv. When asked about Europe's role in peace talks, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on September 8 that Europe is crucial at the negotiating table, not only for its aid but because the negotiations concern the security of the entire continent and Ukraine's future as an EU member. However, the E3 cannot formally represent the EU, with the U.K. having left the bloc in 2020. The Commission confirmed it received a briefing from the E3 representatives, but clarified this does not constitute a representative function. Wigand reiterated the EU's long-standing position that decisions regarding Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine, and matters of European security cannot be decided without Europe, referencing European Council conclusions from June 2026.