Costa stated the EU's desire to establish a diplomatic channel of communication with Russia

The head of the European Council, Antonio Costa, said on June 19 that the European Union (EU) needs to establish a direct diplomatic channel of communication with Russia.

"We need to have a direct channel of diplomatic communication with Russia. Unfortunately, the time for negotiations has not yet come, but in any case, we need to establish direct contact immediately, because we need to listen to them and we need him to address them," he said at a press conference following the EU summit.

In addition, Costa stressed that the EU cannot act as a mediator in the negotiations on Ukraine, as it supports Kiev and will continue to do so after the conflict ends.

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On the same day, Costa joked that they wanted to make him a negotiator with Russia because his colleagues in Brussels "did not like" him.

Before that, Czech Prime Minister Andrei Babis criticized the EU for long negotiations on a dialogue with Russia. According to him, some believe that only the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, should speak, others — that only Europe, and others — that they do not want anyone to speak on their behalf.