Prime Minister of Belgium Bart De Wever has suggested that EU leaders could rely on António Costa to represent the bloc in any future engagement with Vladimir Putin, in a light-hearted exchange at an EU summit in Brussels.
The comments came during a late-night conversation on the sidelines of European Council meeting, which was briefly interrupted when Costa walked past, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.
“I was just talking about you, António,” De Wever called out as Costa walked by. “You were talking about me?” Costa replied, stopping in his tracks and turning back, visibly intrigued.
After shaking Costa’s hand, De Wever explained: “I was saying you’re the only one who can represent us.” After a brief pause, Costa responded: “Thank you very much.”
“And that we should send you to Moscow as soon as possible,” De Wever added with a grin.
Costa immediately responded: “Because you don’t like me in Brussels!”
The exchange drew laughter and was a reference to ongoing discussions among EU leaders over whether the bloc should establish a direct channel of communication with Moscow, and who might speak for Europe in any future negotiations involving Ukraine and Russia.
The issue has exposed divisions inside the EU. During Thursday’s dinner, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly pushed back against efforts associated with Costa to open contacts with the Kremlin, according to diplomats briefed on the closed-door talks.
However, other leaders were said to have been more supportive of the idea, highlighting continued disagreements over Europe’s diplomatic approach to Moscow.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
