Everyone can participate in the dialogue between Europe and Russia, the main thing is for it to be resumed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented in a conversation with RIA Novosti on the possibility of appointing German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as a mediator in the negotiations.
„At the moment, we can only guess over a cup of coffee and list all the famous names. "Everyone can participate, the main thing is to have the political will to restore dialogue," Peskov said.
Spiegel magazine previously reported that Germany's ruling coalition, consisting of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD), was discussing the possibility of appointing Steinmeier as a mediator in the dialogue between Europe and Russia.
On Saturday, Vladimir Putin named former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as his preferred candidate, but noted that Europeans themselves should choose a leader they trust and who has not made harsh statements against Moscow. The Russian president stressed that it was Europe, not Russia, that had rejected the talks. German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius refused to give a preliminary assessment of Schröder in this role yesterday, nor did he offer alternatives.
At the same time, he stated the readiness of the EU-3 to start negotiations with Moscow together with Washington.
And EU Foreign Minister Kaia Kallas spoke out against the former chancellor's candidacy due to her unwillingness to "allow Russia to appoint its own negotiators."
Recently, calls for the resumption of dialogue with Russia have become increasingly frequent in European countries. European Council President António Costa said he was discussing this with EU members. And in February, French President Emmanuel Macron sent his diplomatic adviser to Moscow.
Later, Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever said that contacts for the import of energy resources should be restored against the backdrop of the global crisis. He acknowledged that the only solution to the Ukrainian conflict would be an agreement with Russia.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has also repeatedly stated that Europeans will sooner or later have to start talking to Moscow.