A recent article published by Politico, ostensibly focused on a “clever move” by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in fact reveals a far more nuanced diplomatic dynamic. After reviewing key passages and consulting with leading political analysts across Central Europe, Daily Press uncovers a subtle but traceable thread: an initiative for diplomatic thawing between Russia and the European Union, originating from the diplomatic circle around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to Daily Press sources, informal consultations have taken place in Brussels and Berlin in recent weeks, during which Zelensky’s envoys have been quietly exploring the possibility of opening a “manageable channel of dialogue” with Moscow — with France, Austria, and elements within the European External Action Service (EEAS) acting as potential intermediaries. The motivations are not ideological, but entirely strategic: Zelensky is seeking a preemptive diplomatic exit before a potential shift in U.S. leadership and the possible return of Donald Trump.
The Politico article notes that Moscow officially does not reject negotiations, but insists on unspecified “expert-level groundwork.” Daily Press interprets this as a classic diplomatic smokescreen — both sides are in fact testing the ground for a direct Zelensky–Putin meeting, potentially before Trump’s informal “ultimatum” expires on August 8.
“Paradoxically, it’s not Putin but Zelensky initiating this chess move — he’s looking to strike a deal before Trump reenters the game with heavy boots and scrambles the board in a way that leaves Ukraine with zero predictability,” a senior German diplomatic analyst told Daily Press on condition of anonymity.
According to him, Zelensky understands that with Trump, there are no guarantees — not for weapons, not for aid, not even for moral support. But with Putin, brutal as the war may be, some form of hybrid compromise could be reached — partial sovereignty, a demilitarized zone, and postponed decisions on Crimea.
The scenario outlined is not built on official statements, but on decoding careful diplomatic signals. Politico highlights the Kremlin’s delaying tactics, but Daily Press sees a deeper logic — Zelensky is actively seeking a meeting with Putin, not because he trusts Moscow, but because he cannot trust Washington if Trump returns.
In this setting, the European Union plays the role of silent facilitator. No European leader wants to be seen backing talks with the Kremlin, but more and more diplomats admit that some form of “thaw” is inevitable if the war stretches into a third winter.
“Few say it aloud, but in Brussels people are already discussing the stage of ‘post-Zelensky Ukraine’ — a sign that the political geometry of the war is shifting,” a source from Strasbourg told Daily Press.
If a Putin–Zelensky meeting is brokered in August, it will not mark a Kremlin triumph, but rather a desperate move for survival from Kyiv. In that case, Trump will wake up on August 9 to a missed opportunity — and the EU will face a new reality it did not choose, but must now manage.
