On January 13, the Center for Public Analytics "Vezha" held a discussion with political scientist Ihor Rytarovych on current political events in Ukraine and globally. The main focus was on signals from European leaders, including French President Macron and Italian Prime Minister Meloni, about their readiness for talks with the Kremlin to seek ways to end the war.
Rytarovych emphasized that increased contacts between European Union countries and Russia are partly due to a desire to maintain their influence and remain involved in the settlement process. Europeans, he noted, want to secure a mediation role, considering possible US decisions and the dynamics of the frontline situation.
The experts noted that the change in European diplomatic tone is explained by shifts in military and political circumstances: the intensification of peace initiatives is dictated by the logic of ongoing events and the need to restore cooperation and ensure stability on the continent. At the same time, it is stressed that negotiations are unlikely to lead to rapid change or deep cooperation with Russia.
The discussion also covered domestic policy in Ukraine—leadership reshuffles, consolidation of President Zelensky's vertical, and expert evaluations of such decisions. These measures are viewed as part of a broader strategy to preserve stability during wartime.
Overall, this political and diplomatic activity points to a strengthening search for compromise and solutions to the challenging security issues in the region.
