European Council President Antonio Costa said the European Union is preparing for potential future talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and is consulting EU leaders on how to organize a possible European approach to Moscow with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's support, the Financial Times reported on May 8. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would be ready for dialogue with Europe but would not initiate contact.

The U.S.-driven Ukraine talks have stalled since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war, while Ukrainian officials are still trying to keep the diplomatic track active through meetings in the United States and expect U.S. envoys' travel to Kyiv. Separately, the Dossier Center reported that Russian presidential administration officials were preparing domestic messaging in February for a possible end to the war, suggesting the Kremlin still needs a way to present any eventual deal as a victory, even as the Middle East war has reduced the near-term urgency of negotiations.