Story perspectives

EU Divided on Portugal's Kremlin Outreach, Meloni Demands Single Envoy

6/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Pedro Lourtie, chief of staff to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, held calls with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov and the European Council President’s office made brief contacts with the Kremlin, prompting EU debate.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged the EU to name a single envoy from a medium-sized member state for Russia contacts.
Belgium, Slovenia and Austria supported Costa’s outreach while Poland, the Baltic states and the Nordics opposed it.

History

Historical Context

In March 2014 the EU, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, imposed its first comprehensive sanctions on Russia after Crimea’s annexation, freezing €1 billion of assets and blacklisting about 200 officials. Today chief of staff Pedro Lourtie’s talks with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov echo that 2014 outreach, while Italy’s Giorgia Meloni calls for a single EU envoy, highlighting the sanctions precedent.

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Story summary

Pedro Lourtie, chief of staff to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, held calls with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov and the European Council President’s office made brief contacts with the Kremlin, prompting EU debate.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged the EU to name a single envoy from a medium-sized member state for Russia contacts.
Belgium, Slovenia and Austria supported Costa’s outreach while Poland, the Baltic states and the Nordics opposed it.

1 / 2