Angela Merkel won’t be negotiating with Putin – but the rumour reflects a truth about the Ukraine war | Nathalie Tocci

In Kyiv, I found a mood of confidence. Ukrainians know that Russia is creaking and that Europe has their back Discussions are said to be under way as to which former European heavyweights should represent the EU in any peace talks with Russia. Angela Merkel, Mario Draghi and Sauli Niinistö, the former president of Finland, are names that have cropped up as potential envoys. While meaningless in substance, because there is no negotiation in sight, the story points to a wider truth about the Ukrai