Ambassadors from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have called for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine during a rare diplomatic meeting with Russian officials in Moscow, underscoring ongoing European efforts to encourage a political solution to the conflict.
The discussions took place at Russia’s Foreign Ministry, where the three envoys met with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin. The meeting followed a recent summit attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of the UK, France, and Germany.
According to a joint statement issued after the talks, the diplomats presented the main outcomes of the summit and reiterated their support for Zelensky’s proposal to hold direct discussions with Russia aimed at ending the war, which has now entered its fifth year.
The ambassadors emphasized that diplomatic engagement remains essential and conveyed their governments’ backing for efforts to restart direct dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow.
Russian officials, however, responded critically to the proposal. Moscow stated that the envoys were informed of Russia’s view that European governments have pursued what it described as a counterproductive policy on Ukraine. Russian authorities accused several European states of prolonging the conflict through continued support for Kyiv.
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin declined a proposal from Zelensky for a face-to-face meeting intended to discuss a possible path toward ending the war.
During the recent summit in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly endorsed Zelensky’s initiative. The leaders also suggested that the current front lines could serve as an initial basis for future negotiations.
Direct diplomatic engagement between Western European representatives and Russian officials has become increasingly rare since the outbreak of the war. In recent years, European diplomats have generally maintained limited contact with Moscow and have often been summoned by Russian authorities rather than initiating discussions themselves.
Despite ongoing tensions, several European governments have recently signaled openness to renewed diplomatic channels with Russia as part of broader efforts to seek a resolution to Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
Previous negotiations led by the United States have produced limited progress, while international attention has increasingly shifted toward developments in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has continued to favor discussions with Washington rather than involving European governments directly in negotiations concerning Ukraine.
The United Kingdom, France, and Germany remain among Ukraine’s strongest political and military supporters and continue to advocate for a diplomatic framework that could eventually lead to a negotiated settlement.
