Overview
- EU foreign ministers met in Cyprus to debate whether and how the bloc should shape any formal talks with Russia and stressed that a united EU position must come first.
- High Representative Kaja Kallas warned that focusing the debate on who would represent the EU plays into a Russian tactic to control the process.
- No EU interlocutor has been appointed and several names have been floated but not taken forward as ministers said choosing an envoy must follow a collective strategy.
- Kallas said Europe is not a neutral broker and that any talks must protect EU security interests such as sanctions, limits on Ukraine's forces and the removal of Russian troops from neighbouring states.
- With reports of heavier strikes on Kyiv and most European embassies remaining in place while the U.S. temporarily withdrew staff, leaders will revisit the issue at the June summit in Brussels and the outcome could shape sanctions and security commitments.