Should Europe talk to Putin?

Europe is grappling with heightened security concerns following recent drone incursions into Baltic airspace, prompting a show of solidarity from EU leaders. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius visited Lithuania to address the situation and explore collaborative efforts, including partnerships between Baltic and Ukrainian companies focused on bomb-shelter construction expertise. This development underscores the ongoing tensions near Europe’s eastern borders and the need for enhanced regional defense measures. Amid these security challenges, calls are intensifying for Europe to take a more proactive role in peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. With the United States stepping back from direct involvement, there is growing pressure for the EU to appoint its own negotiator to help mediate the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly urged Europe to increase its diplomatic engagement. However, some European officials, including Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski, have expressed reservations about this approach, highlighting divisions within the bloc on how best to handle the crisis. In parallel, discussions over the European Union’s next long-term budget are intensifying, with a proposed €1.8 trillion package facing resistance from several member states. The debate centers on the appropriate level of EU spending amid economic uncertainties and competing national priorities. This budget negotiation will have significant implications for the bloc’s ability to fund defense, recovery, and strategic initiatives in the coming years, reflecting broader questions about Europe’s financial and political cohesion in a turbulent geopolitical environment.