Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker has called on European Union leaders to capitalize on emerging diplomatic momentum and advance efforts to reopen peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the conflict in Ukraine. Stocker expressed strong support for recent moves by Brussels to establish communication channels with the Kremlin, describing diplomacy as essential to ending the war.

In an interview, Stocker emphasized that wars conclude through negotiation rather than military means, highlighting the necessity of dialogue as a prerequisite for successful diplomacy. He cited developments in the Middle East, particularly a ceasefire in Iran, as factors that could shift global attention back to Ukraine and create a window for renewed talks.

While U.S.-led negotiations to resolve Russia’s more than four-year war against Ukraine remain stalled, European capitals are divided on the best path forward. Some advocate intensifying support to Ukraine militarily, with the aim of pressuring Moscow into negotiations through battlefield setbacks. Others, including Stocker, urge opening diplomatic channels to pursue a lasting peace. He noted that the EU has consistently maintained a stance against fostering conditions for an endless conflict, underscoring the importance of a just and enduring resolution.

Stocker did not specify who within Europe might lead dialogue efforts with Putin but stressed that the substance of any discussions is more crucial than the individual messenger. He suggested that EU leaders may not yet be fully aligned on their negotiating position but agreed on the overarching goal of pursuing peace.

In recent weeks, Pedro Lourtie, chief of staff to EU Council President António Costa, engaged in preliminary conversations with a senior Kremlin official as part of tentative efforts to reopen communication lines. These actions were described by an EU official as brief contacts aimed at fostering dialogue.

Stocker was scheduled to participate in an EU summit in Brussels chaired by Costa, where Ukraine and the potential for dialogue with Moscow were prominent agenda items. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was expected to address the summit and has expressed support for European initiatives to engage the Kremlin diplomatically.

Despite these overtures, resistance remains among several EU member states, particularly from northern and eastern Europe, which remain skeptical of engaging with Putin. Critics highlight Putin’s continued insistence on pursuing stringent demands amid setbacks in the war as reasons to doubt the efficacy of dialogue.

From Moscow, Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov rejected a French proposal for expanded European involvement in peace talks during a February meeting, reinforcing Russia’s position that any negotiations must start from Putin’s conditions.

As the EU weighs the risks and opportunities of renewed engagement, the leadership faces the challenge of balancing diplomatic outreach with ongoing military and political support for Ukraine in hopes of ultimately resolving a conflict that has profoundly reshaped European security.