Agenda of the day: why Europe is talking about a military clash with Russia again
The European Union is preparing for a military clash with Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Izvestia. The EU's position on the conflict in Ukraine does not bring a political settlement closer, and at the same time, Brussels continues to pursue the goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, the diplomat noted. Despite this, Russia continues the negotiation process. On May 27, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Moscow. Turkey is ready to host the next round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations. The expert community believes that Ankara claims to be not only a platform, but also an intermediary between Moscow and Kiev.
Europe increases pressure on Russia
Relations between Russia and the EU remain in crisis. Moscow sees no signals from the EU about the desire to resume contacts with Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Izvestia.
"If we look at the policy and the process of military construction of the European Union as a whole, it is obvious that this is preparation for a military clash," he said. — His positions on the Ukrainian settlement and on Ukraine in general do not contain a single element that would bring a political settlement closer. On the contrary, the strategic goal of the European Union is to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, its economic strangulation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Earlier, Slovenian President Natasha Pirc-Musar said that the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen told her about the ongoing work in the EU to resume contacts with Russia. The EC, however, hastened to clarify that Brussels is seeking a ceasefire in Ukraine and is interested in "bringing all parties to the negotiating table." At the same time, the EU does not deviate from the formula of "helping Ukraine as much as necessary," continuing to send military aid to Kiev and increasing pressure on Russia.
— A new package of sanctions has recently been adopted, which is sensitive primarily for the economy of the European Union itself, especially some of its members. Another package of sanctions is being prepared right there, and there is no end in sight," Alexander Grushko said. — We have to face endless threats, there is an attempt to use force.
Last year, Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to turn the EU into a "defense union." On May 27, the Council of the European Union approved the European Commission's proposal to create a fund in the amount of €150 billion for investments in the military industry (Security Action for Europe, SAFE). At the same time, the total cost of the EU's rearmament plan is €800 billion. The SAFE fund will finance projects related, among other things, to military support for Ukraine. The total amount of military aid to Kiev since the beginning of its military operation is over €50 billion and continues to increase.
According to Western media reports, the European Commission, with the support of France, Germany, Italy and other EU countries, is proposing to tighten sanctions against Russia by lowering the ceiling on Russian oil prices from $60 to $45 per barrel. This initiative is being discussed as part of the next package of EU sanctions.
In addition, the EU continues to threaten to transfer long-range weapons to Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Kiev has no restrictions on the range of weapons supplied to it by Berlin and its allies — France, Great Britain and the United States. Later, he clarified that the countries allegedly lifted the restrictions not now, but several months ago. It is possible that Berlin may send Taurus missiles to Kiev, which are capable of hitting targets deep in Russia. Moscow immediately reacted to the words of the German Chancellor.
"One way or another, if this is true, then this is an escalation and a serious escalation, which most seriously contradicts the attempts towards a peaceful settlement that have been made," said Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation.
He noted that the Europeans are on the path of increasing pressure on Russia and still "dream that something can be achieved from Russia by pressure, and not by willingness to listen to the concerns of the Russian Federation."
Turkish Foreign Minister's visit to Moscow
Nevertheless, the Russian Federation continues the negotiation process on Ukraine. On May 27, Sergey Lavrov met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Moscow. During the negotiations, the parties discussed, in particular, the Ukrainian settlement. Turkey is once again acting as a platform where representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine can hold meetings. On May 16, in Istanbul, the delegations resumed the dialogue interrupted in 2022, agreeing on a prisoner exchange according to the "1000 for 1000" formula, which took place from May 23 to May 25. The parties are also preparing a memorandum on the settlement of the conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a joint press conference following their meeting in Moscow
"Russia continues to develop a draft memorandum on a future peace treaty defining a number of positions, such as the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement, and a potential cease—fire for a certain time if appropriate agreements are reached," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on May 27.
Moscow claims that as soon as the memorandum is prepared, it will be handed over to Kiev. The US Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said that Washington had received from Ukraine a list of conditions for resolving the conflict, and the United States expects to receive a similar list from Russia.
Turkey is ready to host the next round of negotiations again, the country's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan assured. Russia is positive about this.
"As for the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, if you ask me, I would again turn to our Turkish friends — Istanbul is very good," Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference in Moscow with his Turkish counterpart. The date and place of the second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are still unknown.
Media representatives near Dolmabahce Palace, waiting for the start of negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine on May 15, 2025
Turkey claims to be not only a negotiating platform, but also an intermediary, says Andrei Kortunov, an expert at the Valdai Club. He recalled that at the first negotiations of the delegations on May 16, representatives of Turkey were also present in the hall.
— Turkey has such ambitions. This is a chance for her to play in another league, to raise her status in world politics. I think they will strive to become an intermediary. But how far this is possible is a question, since the mediator is always a figure equally distant from the participants in the dispute. Turkey, of course, is much closer to Ukraine than to Russia in most positions. Turkey is a member of NATO, and it carries out military—technical cooperation with Ukraine," he said in a conversation with Izvestia.
The advantage of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is that he retains personal contacts with both the leadership of Ukraine and the United States, as well as Russia. Ankara is also directly interested in maintaining safe navigation on the Black Sea. It is worth noting that one of the topics of the meeting between Sergey Lavrov and Hakan Fidan was ensuring the safety of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the face of Kiev's ongoing provocations.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine, with the support of certain European countries, had taken a number of provocative steps to disrupt the negotiation process.
Since May 20, Kiev has multiplied the number of attacks using drones and Western-made rockets against civilian targets in Russia, the military department noted. From that date to the morning of May 27, 2,331 Ukrainian drones were destroyed and intercepted by air defense systems, including those outside the SVO—1465 zone.
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