European Union leaders are currently split over the bloc's future priorities and the role of the EU in potential peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin. European Council President António Costa has reportedly opened a direct communication channel with the Kremlin, a move that has drawn criticism from some member states, including Germany and France. While some leaders support a unified European voice at the negotiating table, there is no current consensus on how to proceed.
European leaders divided over potential Kremlin negotiations
Friday, 19 June 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
- President of the European Council (since Dec 2024)
- Former Prime Minister of Portugal (November 2015 – April 2024)
- Party: Socialist Party (PS) Partido Socialista
- He is of Portuguese and Indian (Goan) descent
António Luís Santos da Costa (born July 17, 1961, in Lisbon) is a Portuguese lawyer and Socialist politician who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 2015-2024 and currently serves as President of the European Council since December 1, 2024. After leading the Lisbon Municipal Assembly and practicing law, he was elected MEP (2004-2005) and entered parliament in 2002. He led the Socialist Party from 2014-2024, building unprecedented parliamentary coalitions with the Communist Party and Left Bloc (2015-2019) before winning an absolute majority in 2022. He resigned as PM in November 2023 following a corruption investigation, though subsequently cleared. The 27 EU member states elected him Council President in June 2024, making him the fourth full-time President and the first southern European socialist in that role.
Political Philosophy:
Costa represents moderate European social democracy, combining orthodox fiscal responsibility with progressive social investment. He prioritizes European integration, consensus-building, and pragmatic compromise over ideological confrontation. As Council President, he champions mediation between member states, improved EU inter-institutional relations, shorter decision-making processes, and regular visits to every EU capital to reconnect citizens with European institutions. His approach emphasizes "creative bridges" reconciling divergent interests while maintaining firmness on European values, particularly regarding Ukraine.
3 sources
- Disagreement in Brussels: doubts regarding potential negotiations with Putinrtp.pt ·
- Macron and Merz join forces against Costa following contacts with the Kremlin that are dividing the European Unioncnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- Costa has opened a communication channel with the Kremlin and is available to represent the EU at the negotiating tableexpresso.pt ·
