EU leaders divided over Kremlin back-channel as Ukraine summit exposes splits on Russia strategy

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels failed to agree on whether to establish a back-channel with Moscow to protect bloc interests in potential negotiations to end Russia's war on Ukraine. European Council President António Costa had directed his office to reach out to the Kremlin, but the proposal exposed deep divisions: Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said 'Europe is unable to agree even on whether there will be negotiations or who will lead them,' while Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin supported opening a channel. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that the E3 format (Germany, France, Britain) — created at Ukraine's explicit wish — should anchor diplomatic coordination. The Kremlin signaled it was 'ready for contact' but demanded Europe abandon any approach from 'a position of force.' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that a direct NATO-Russia confrontation could 'rapidly escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes.'