EU-Russia: Rangel’s “momentum”

Having Gerhard Schröder as leader of the peace negotiations in Ukraine is “an unreasonable idea. It would be the same as saying it should be Orbán.”

The Portuguese Foreign Minister said this Monday that there was “momentum” for the European Union (EU) to start talking to Russia, stressing that Moscow has shown signs that it is available for dialogue with the bloc.

“There is signs that open up the possibility of talking and talking,” he said. Paulo Rangel speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The Portuguese ruler highlighted that there appears to be, “either on the part of the Russia, either on the part of UE and European countries, a availability to consider this dialogue”, adding that this “is something different”.

“There has been some change here and therefore this creates what is now called, using a Latin word but coming from English, ‘momentum’”, mentioned.

Asked if it seems to him that, on the ground, Russia has expressed a willingness to negotiate, the minister replied that “there is three factors different and that can give signals that are not all convergent in the same direction”.

“The first is that negotiations mediated in the United States are at a certain level. impasse, they have not progressed and, at the same time, there is openness in the United States so that Europe or the EU can play a role here, or at least start talking,” he said.

The second factor, he continued, is that “there are some signs from the Russian Federation that this dialogue could be done”, as indicated by the fact that President Vladimir Putin proposed that the former German Chancellor represent the EU in possible negotiations.

“The proposal for this name advances the issue of considering a dialogue with Europe, regardless of whether it is an acceptable or unacceptable name,” noted Rangel.

The head of Portuguese diplomacy said that the third factor occurs in land and “somewhat belies the willingness not so much to talk, but to agree to make progress”, giving the example of the fact that Russia rejected bringing forward the ceasefire from May 8th and 9th to May 6th.

But, “I think there is a ‘momentum’”, reiterated Paulo Rangel.

When asked whether this openness to dialogue with Russia is transversal to all EU member states, including the baltic countries, the minister responded that “there are nuances”, but “there is a disposition of many States”.

“Look at the case of Finland and Estonia, the presidents met, right after Prime Minister Luís Montenegro spoke, and they both said that there would have to be a moment when there would have to be conversations with them”, he said.

Regarding the ways in which this eventual dialogue can happen, Rangel stressed that there are “several ways”.

“It could just be some European countries, it could be the EU as such. There are several ways. (…) It’s preliminary and it’s still, let’s say, a little early. Everything is open”, he said.

Still about the former German Chancellor Schröder, and asked if it seemed acceptable for him to represent the EU in potential negotiations, Rangel replied: “It’s a unreasonable idea.”

“It is clear that Gerhard Schröder does not offer these conditions. would be the same as saying – it was even mentioned in the room – que devia ser Viktor Orbán [ex-primeiro-ministro húngaro] to carry out negotiations. I mean, this is someone who is completely aligned with the Russian regime,” he said.

Despite expressing openness to dialogue, Rangel defended that the EU should not “stop actions” to press Moscow, stressing that possible negotiations are still at a “very preliminary stage”.

“Therefore, we will not, under any circumstances, relax in the support we have given to Ukraine”, he stressed.

Ukraine has relied on financial and weapons aid from Western allies since Russia invaded the country on February 24, 2022.

Kiev’s allies have also enacted sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy to try to diminish Moscow’s ability to finance the war effort in Ukraine.