Macron: Europe must be at the negotiating table for peace in Ukraine

2026-06-19 17:48:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

French President Emmanuel Macron said that European countries must be part of any future negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, stressing that Europe's security and interests are directly linked to the outcome of these talks.

Speaking at the end of the European Union summit in Brussels, Macron said that France's position has always been clear.

"When negotiations take place, Europeans must be at the negotiating table, because this issue directly affects Europe's interests ," Macron said.

The French president added that the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, could participate in such negotiations, if his institutional role is clearly defined.

For his part, Antonio Costa clarified that the European Union is not and does not intend to be a mediator in negotiations to end the war, but remains a steadfast supporter of Ukraine during and after the conflict.

"Unfortunately, so far we have no credible signals from Russia indicating a willingness for serious negotiations ," Costa declared at the press conference after the summit.

However, he stressed that his office is trying to maintain diplomatic channels of communication with Moscow, arguing that the European Union cannot rely solely on others to interpret Russian messages and must have the opportunity to convey its own positions directly.

Costa underlined that there is no competition between the different actors working to achieve peace, as each has a distinct and complementary role. He stressed that only Ukraine can negotiate on behalf of Ukraine, while international partners can contribute with security guarantees and political support.

Meanwhile, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that Ukraine and Europe want peace, while Russia is the one that continues to choose the path of violence.

"Europe must be one of the architects of a just and lasting peace, with Ukraine at the center of the process and with the full support of the European Union ," she said.

Von der Leyen also assessed that Russia, sooner or later, will be forced to sit at the negotiating table, mainly due to the pressure of European sanctions. She called for a united European message to Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed close cooperation with Antonio Costa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to achieve this objective.

The statements by European leaders come at a time when diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine are intensifying, while the European Union seeks to secure an active role in any future peace process. /CNA