EU responds to claim of Slovenia's president of resuming direct contact with Kremlin

The European Union aims to bring all relevant parties to the negotiating table to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Paula Pinho, chief spokesperson for the European Commission, was commenting at a briefing in Brussels on a statement made by Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, who claimed that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had informed her about efforts to restore ties with the Kremlin.

"What we can confirm is that we are interested in bringing all the partners together at the table, all the parties concerned, to discuss a ceasefire and in view of achieving peace. That's what we are interested in," Pinho said.

Meanwhile, she did not refute Nataša Pirc Musar’s remarks regarding the content of the conversation with von der Leyen.

Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar told journalists in Brussels about her meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during which the latter supposedly said the EU was working to resume direct contact with Russia.

Nataša Pirc Musar visited Ukraine in June 2024. At the time, she stated that Ukraine should decide for itself when and under what conditions to enter negotiations with Russia.