EU foreign ministers rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's suggestion that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could represent Europe in possible future talks with Moscow on European security, Reuters reported on May 11.

The European Union has largely isolated Russia diplomatically since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while imposing sanctions and limiting high-level contacts. But as U.S.-led Ukraine talks make little progress and Washington remains focused on the Iran war, some European officials have argued that the bloc should prepare for possible direct discussions with Moscow.