Russia to consider E3 nations' request for another meeting, if any -- senior diplomat
- Russian Deputy FM Mikhail Galuzin leaves the door ajar for another meeting with UK, France, and Germany envoys—provided they bring something other than the usual lecture.
- Galuzin's tone suggests Moscow isn't dodging dialogue, merely demanding the E3 show up with substance rather than recycled ultimatums.
- Moscow reiterates its claim that the West sabotaged a 2022 Istanbul peace deal by refusing to let Zelensky sign, blaming London, Paris, and Berlin for prolonging the war.
- The E3's last visit in June reportedly produced little beyond Russian accusations of 'destructive policies' aimed at fueling the conflict.
Brief Summary
In a masterclass of diplomatic hedging, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin announced that Moscow would 'consider' another powwow with the E3 troika—if they bother to ask. The catch? They'd better bring more than the usual bouquet of demands and stern reproaches; the Kremlin is in no mood to entertain empty ultimatums disguised as peace overtures. Galuzin framed Russia as the very picture of reasonableness, claiming they're not 'shying away from dialogue' but are merely picky about the menu being served. He effectively told the British, French, and German ambassadors that another meeting is possible, but only if they arrive with something that isn't a warmed-over repeat of Western demands to surrender. He also took the opportunity to remind everyone of Moscow's favorite what-if tale: the near-miss Istanbul peace deal in April 2022 that, per Russia, was torpedoed by the West's refusal to let Ukraine's Zelensky sign on the dotted line. The takeaway: Russia is happy to talk, but only as a polite prelude to saying 'no' again—unless the West blinks first.
Why This Matters
For the average reader, this is the diplomatic equivalent of watching two chess players stare at the board while refusing to move. The E3's ongoing outreach to Russia signals that despite the noise about arming Ukraine to the teeth, Western capitals are still desperate to find an off-ramp before winter’s energy bills arrive and public patience runs thin. Should a meeting happen, expect zero headlines about peace agreements and a thousand more about 'constructive dialogue'—the diplomatic term for meeting, grimacing, and walking away. The real ramification here is that Moscow is dictating the terms of engagement, framing itself as the patient peacemaker while casting Europe as the warmongering obstacle. If you were hoping for a swift resolution, this article is a cold shower, because the tale of the Istanbul deal will be trotted out again—a haunting reminder that peace was allegedly scribbled on paper once before and then snatched away.