Foreign ministers of European Union member states are planning to discuss the prospects of resuming negotiations with Russia at an informal meeting in Cyprus on 27–28 May, and to develop common requirements that Brussels will present to Moscow.
The meeting, held in the Gymnich format, is expected to cover a broad range of security issues, including the situation around Ukraine. Particular attention is to be paid to the conditions under which the European Union is prepared to engage in dialogue with the Russian side.
According to diplomatic sources, the ministers intend to agree on a unified EU approach to possible negotiations. Key topics on the agenda include a ceasefire, the territorial integrity of Ukraine, security guarantees, and a mechanism for the potential lifting or easing of sanctions.
Cyprus, as the host country, traditionally serves as a venue for closed informal discussions among European ministers. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is expected to participate in the meeting.
The decisions reached in Cyprus may form the basis of the European Union’s broader strategy towards Russia in the coming months. Official outcomes of the meeting will, as usual, be announced following its conclusion.
Senior European officials have previously stressed on multiple occasions that any dialogue with Moscow is only possible on the condition that international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty are respected.