«Europe must realise it holds a significant card – Russia knows a “big deal” with President Trump cannot provide long-term stability without European consent. This should be Europe’s opening bid: inform Moscow that since sustainable deals are impossible without Europe, they should come and find Europe only when they are ready for meaningful negotiations and a real settlement»
Leo Litra, Senior Research Fellow at New Europe Center, Senior Policy Fellow at ECFR, in his op-ed on Euractiv argues that Europe should engage Russia only from a position of strength, with a unified strategy and clear red lines, rather than out of fear of being excluded from US-Russia talks. The author contends that Europe holds significant leverage over any future settlement and should use Russia’s growing vulnerabilities and stronger support for Ukraine to push for meaningful negotiations.
Among the key arguments:
- Dialogue with Moscow should begin only when Europe has clear goals, leverage, and a united approach.
- Russia does not view dialogue as an end in itself, but as a tool to impose ultimatums and advance its interests.
- Europe should speak the language of power and take advantage of Russia’s mounting economic and military pressures.
- Strengthening Ukraine’s air defence and enhancing its ability to strike Russian military targets are essential to changing the Kremlin’s calculus.
- Any sustainable agreement between Russia and the United States will ultimately require European consent, giving Europe more influence than it often assumes.
Read the full op-ed via the link here.
