EU scrambles to find negotiator as Ukraine seeks war exit talks

KYIV — Ukraine has formally asked the European Union to appoint a high-level envoy to broker an end to its two-year-old war with Russia, a request that will dominate talks among EU foreign ministers in Paphos, Cyprus, on Tuesday. The plea comes as Kyiv grapples with dwindling ammunition supplies and mounting civilian casualties, according to three senior Ukrainian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

Leaked documents obtained by this newspaper reveal that German diplomats have drafted a confidential memo advocating for the appointment of former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö as the EU’s special envoy for Ukraine negotiations. The proposal, circulated last week, argues that Niinistö’s neutrality and experience in mediating complex conflicts—including his role in brokering a 2014 truce between Russia and Ukraine—make him the ideal candidate to break the current deadlock.

Niinistö’s potential appointment has already drawn criticism from Moscow, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova calling the move “another attempt by the West to dictate terms” during a press briefing in Moscow on Monday. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled cautious optimism, telling reporters in Kyiv that any mediation effort must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The EU’s push for a new envoy comes after repeated failures by Turkey and China to revive stalled ceasefire efforts. A senior EU diplomat, speaking on background, confirmed that Niinistö’s name had gained traction among Western capitals but warned that Russia’s refusal to engage in direct talks without preconditions remained a major obstacle.

In a parallel development, France’s President Emmanuel Macron has floated the idea of a “humanitarian pause” to allow aid deliveries and prisoner exchanges, a proposal that Kyiv has cautiously welcomed but Moscow has yet to respond to. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, is expected to present a formal proposal for the envoy role during Tuesday’s meeting, though final approval would require unanimous support from all 27 member states.

1. Tuesday’s meeting — EU foreign ministers gather in Paphos to discuss Ukraine mediation and Niinistö’s potential role.
2. Niinistö’s vetting — Background checks and consultations with Kyiv and Moscow would follow any formal nomination.
3. Ratification timeline — A decision could emerge within weeks if consensus is reached, though delays are likely given deep divisions on Russia policy.

The urgency of the situation was underscored on Sunday when Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on Kharkiv, killing at least 12 civilians and damaging critical infrastructure. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov condemned the attacks as “a deliberate strategy to break morale,” adding that Kyiv’s forces were stretched thin after months of intense combat along the 1,200-kilometer frontline.

Analysts warn that without a breakthrough in negotiations, Ukraine’s military situation could deteriorate further, particularly as Western aid faces increasing delays in the U.S. Congress. Meanwhile, the EU’s ability to act as a unified mediator is complicated by divisions among member states, with Hungary and Slovakia publicly questioning the bloc’s imposition of further sanctions on Moscow.

The war’s escalation has also reignited debates in Europe over defense spending, with Poland and the Baltic states pushing for accelerated NATO membership for Ukraine as a deterrent against further Russian aggression. For now, the focus remains on Tuesday’s meeting in Cyprus—a high-stakes gamble that could either reignite stalled diplomacy or deepen the impasse between the warring parties.