Moscow, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said Russia is ready to restore diplomatic relations with Europe to pre-war levels, despite ties remaining at their lowest point since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Addressing a Kremlin ceremony welcoming newly arrived foreign ambassadors, Putin said official political and business contacts between Russia and European countries had sharply declined, while engagement on key foreign policy issues had effectively been frozen. He expressed hope that the situation would eventually change, allowing both sides to return to what he described as normal and constructive dialogue.
Putin stressed that respect for national interests and recognition of legitimate security concerns were essential preconditions for rebuilding relations. He said Russia remained committed to these principles and was prepared to restore the level of relations it considers necessary, pointing to Europe and Russia’s deep historical ties and past examples of mutually beneficial partnerships and cultural cooperation.
His remarks came amid renewed debate in Europe over re-engagement with Moscow. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday that the time had come for the European Union to resume high-level dialogue with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron also said last month that Europe should work on a framework to begin direct engagement with the Kremlin in the coming weeks.
However, caution remains within EU institutions. On Monday, the European Commission’s chief spokesperson, Paula Pinho, said there were no clear signs that Putin was ready for genuine engagement, suggesting the bloc was not yet at a point to reopen talks.
European leaders have previously resisted calls for direct negotiations with Putin, citing doubts about Russia’s willingness to pursue meaningful peace talks. At the same time, concerns are growing in Brussels that Europe risks being sidelined in discussions on Ukraine, as diplomatic efforts have so far been dominated by the Kremlin and the Trump Administration.
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