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Kremlin Says Europe’s Negotiators Have Not Yet Contacted Russia

Kremlin spokesman Peskov said Europe’s envoys have not approached Moscow, days after the EU named a team for Ukraine peace talks. Russia has not confirmed that Europe will join the negotiations, and EU leaders remain split on who should speak for them.

By Elena Vance

November 15, 20263 min read

Kremlin Says Europe's Negotiators Have Not Yet Contacted Russia — Kremlin Says Europe’s Negotiators Have Not Yet Contacted Russia

Kremlin spokesman Peskov said on November 15, 2026 that Europe’s negotiators have not yet contacted Russia, two days after the European Union announced the team it plans to send to the next round of Ukraine peace talks.

Asked whether any contact had been made, Peskov answered: "No. Not yet."

The exchange shows how far Europe still is from a place at the table. Brussels has named its delegation, but Moscow has not agreed to receive it.

Who Europe plans to send

European Council President Antonio Costa said on Friday that the continent will be represented by officials from the 27-nation EU and five members of the "Coalition of the Willing", the group backing Ukraine. The five are the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.

Costa spoke at the end of an EU leaders’ meeting in Dublin. The EU delegation will also include representatives of the European Commission and the European Council.

"Europe must speak with one clear voice and united voice in all discussions that shape the future of Ukraine and the security of our continent," Costa told reporters.

Kremlin has not agreed

After talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, US envoys said Europe would join future negotiations. The Kremlin then appeared to slam the brakes on that plan, saying no decision had been made.

Moscow does not want European countries in direct negotiations. It argues that they finance and supply Ukraine’s military effort. Kyiv, by contrast, wants support from its European allies.

Russian officials say they are ready to talk to European leaders, but they have also criticized Europe, according to Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova, reporting from Moscow. She said the Kremlin has not confirmed that Putin agreed to widen the three-way talks to include Europe.

A divided European voice

Europe fears that US-backed talks between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv could leave it sidelined. Leaders in Dublin also disagreed on whether one envoy or a team should speak for the continent.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni backed a single envoy. "There are too many different groupings discussing the issue," she said.

US envoy Jared Kushner made a similar point after talks between Ukraine and Russia in the United Arab Emirates this week. If Europe could name one person to speak for it, he said, "that would be a bigger achievement than getting the Russians to include them in the negotiation."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked Washington for no surprises ahead of expected talks between US President Donald Trump and Putin in China next week. Some in Dublin fear a "second Anchorage moment", he said, a reference to the Alaska summit held without Ukrainian or European envoys.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas put herself forward for the envoy role. Al Jazeera’s Milena Veselinovic said there is no unanimous support for her, because many see her as uncompromising on Russia.

"I know that the Russians don’t want me, but, you know, do we have a say, ‘Who is representing Russia?’" Kallas said.