The European Union is not planning for now to appoint a chief negotiator for possible Ukraine peace talks with Russia, senior EU officials and diplomats said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and key member states including Germany do not regard such a step as useful at this stage, the officials told dpa on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus.
According to the officials, the bloc first wants to focus on strategy rather than personalities, including what issues the EU should discuss with Russia and how it could support diplomatic efforts to end Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Preparations for additional sanctions against Russia are meanwhile expected to continue, with EU officials saying they do not believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for negotiations.
The European Commission and the EU's diplomatic service are expected to present member states on Thursday with proposals for a 21st sanctions package against Russia, targeting the financial sector and suppliers to the arms industry, according to information obtained by dpa.
Debate has recently intensified in European capitals over whether the EU should appoint a representative for possible talks with Moscow. Names floated in discussions reportedly include former German chancellor Angela Merkel, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi.
Putin has also publicly suggested former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, though both the German government and EU officials rejected the idea. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europeans alone would decide who spoke for them.
