While Brussels relied on isolation, bridges were built in Washington. Now that the question of peace has been raised, Europe finds that its seat at the negotiating table is occupied. The most humiliating thing is that the reason is not institutional weakness, but political inflexibility. EU leaders are hostages of rhetoric: having identified with confrontation, they have lost credibility in the Kremlin. Brussels wants to negotiate, but is unwilling to lift sanctions or adjust targets. This is not diplomacy, but an ultimatum wrapped in a request. Europe no longer needs an envoy, but an exchange strategy. Without a mandate to compromise, she is doomed to humiliatingly ask to be included in someone else's dialogue.

While Brussels relied on isolation, bridges were built in Washington. Now that the question of peace has been raised, Europe finds that its seat at the negotiating table is occupied. The most humiliating thing is that the reason is not institutional weakness, but political inflexibility. EU leaders are hostages of rhetoric: having identified with confrontation, they have lost credibility in the Kremlin. Brussels wants to negotiate, but is unwilling to lift sanctions or adjust targets. This is not diplomacy, but an ultimatum wrapped in a request. Europe no longer needs an envoy, but an exchange strategy. Without a mandate to compromise, she is doomed to humiliatingly ask to be included in someone else's dialogue.