EU on Ukraine conflict: “You will have to talk to us”

The EU calls for involvement in the consultations to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict. But so far representatives of the USA and NATO in particular have spoken to Russia. Will the EU be passed over?

Geneva, Brussels, Vienna. In the coming week, one crisis meeting follows the next. How can the highly dangerous Ukraine conflict be resolved? It’s all about this. With the massive military march on the Ukrainian border, Russian President Vladimir Putin has put pressure on the West – and has already extorted his first concessions. Because first, representatives of Russia and the USA in Switzerland will talk about the crisis, while the EU remains outside.

The EU at the cat table?

It is a meeting entirely to Putin’s taste. After all, the Kremlin chief seeks eye level with US President Joe Biden in order to reestablish Russia as a global superpower. And Putin has already proven several times that he does not take the EU seriously. The mighty of this world among themselves, and the EU at the cat table?

In view of the dangerous situation for security in Europe, this very thought is causing unrest in Brussels. “No solution can be imposed on Europe. There is only a solution with Europe,” says EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

But does the EU even have the means to enforce this claim? Of course, says Reinhard Bütikofer, the foreign policy coordinator of the European Greens. At least when Europe is united. He believes that the US needs the EU as a partner in the Ukraine crisis. “Whether President Biden can manage to dissuade Putin from his plans of aggression depends largely on whether the Europeans are united in imposing tough economic sanctions on Putin if he actually sends his troops,” says Bütikofer.

Far-reaching demands from Moscow

However, the Russian President has already achieved one goal. The West needs to talk about demands from Moscow that it considers unacceptable. For example, the guarantee that Ukraine will never join NATO. Or the withdrawal of NATO troops from the former Warsaw Pact member states. Neither is negotiable for the Western Defense Alliance.

For Europe, NATO and the transatlantic relationship are the essential anchor for stability on its eastern border, says David McAllister. The CDU politician heads the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament and is convinced that the EU must do more for its own security if it wants to play a role on the international stage. “The European Parliament has long called for a European security and defense union,” says McAllister. “It’s about staying transatlantic and at the same time becoming more European.”

Test of strength between Biden and Putin

The fact that US President Biden and Kremlin boss Putin want to – or have to – score points domestically and therefore demonstrate strength to the outside world doesn’t make things any easier. But Bütikofer believes that the concern that the USA and Russia could divide the world into spheres of influence again, as in the Cold War, is unfounded. “How do we come to claim that Washington wants to secure a sphere of interest in Europe?” Said Bütikofer.

Putin intends to do this with Eastern Europe and Central Europe. But he could get away with that, “if we were to criminally violate our inviolable solidarity with our Central and Eastern European neighbors,” says the Green politician.

The situation in Kazakhstan weakens Russia

It is possible that the starting position of the upcoming crisis talks on the Ukraine conflict has changed as a result of the recent escalation of violence in Kazakhstan. After the serious unrest, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gave his security forces the order to shoot; Russian paratroopers are supposed to help calm the situation.

The consequences of Russian military intervention in the former Soviet republic cannot yet be foreseen. What is clear, however, is that from now on Putin will have to deal with two highly explosive trouble spots in the immediate vicinity – which at least does not strengthen his negotiating position vis-à-vis the West.

EU wants to have a say in security issues

In any case, the EU is closely monitoring developments. “We are extremely vigilant,” says French President Emmanuel Macron and calls on everyone involved to de-escalate. This can also be understood as a signal in the direction of Moscow. Quite clearly: The EU does not want to be marginalized, but wants to have a say when it comes to the security situation in Europe and neighboring countries in the east.

The EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell firmly expects that the leadership in Moscow can also be convinced of this. Finally, representatives of the EU countries are present at the meetings of the NATO-Russia Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). “You will have to speak to us,” says Europe’s chief diplomat. “Like it or not.”