According to EU law, the bloc is represented on the world stage by the European Council president — Costa, currently. “The interests of the European Union must be represented by its institutions, in accordance with the Treaties,” he wrote in response to Meloni’s letter, appearing to hint that he was up for the job.

Costa’s head of Cabinet Pedro Lourtie contacted officials in Moscow twice in June to establish a channel of communication, infuriating some leaders, POLITICO reported at the time.

Kallas also has foreign policy competence as the bloc’s High Representative. But her critics have long argued the former Estonian prime minister is too hawkish on Russia and would not be able to negotiate in good faith with Moscow. 

“There is no need to appoint anyone new. If Russians don’t like it, too bad,” Michal said. “We should be represented by those we trust and who are accountable to the EU, not by those who Putin likes.”

Not everyone is on board with the EU institutions taking a leading role in the negotiations. Marine Le Pen, France’s poll-leading far-right presidential candidate, wants to drastically reduce Brussels’ diplomatic role. 

Fabrice Leggeri, an MEP from Le Pen’s RN party, insisted Costa and Kallas could not speak for France. 

“There is no diplomatic competence for the European Union,” he told POLITICO. “We should keep this at the level of our nations … I can hardly imagine that we would expect that the EU, that Costa or Kallas, would speak on behalf of France.“