Europe should pick negotiator for possible Russian talks, says Zelenskyy – Europe live | Ukraine

Meanwhile, Estonia’s spy chief Kaupo Rosin told Reuters that Russian president Vladimir Putin has few good options in Ukraine with his armed forces unable to advance significantly on the battlefield while western sanctions are chipping away at his resources.

He told the agency that Russia was losing more men than it was recruiting in the fifth year of its full-scale war, and that a general mobilisation would be deeply unpopular and potentially undermine stability.

“All these factors together are creating a situation where some people in Russia including in the higher levels understand that they have a big problem. Hard to say what Putin thinks about it, but I think all these factors are starting to float into his decision-making.”

He said the west should “push forward” with sanctions.

This is not the time to hesitate, just let’s keep going.

Back to Ukraine, Russian drones struck critical infrastructure facilities of Ukraine’s energy firm Naftogaz in the Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, the company said.

Among the targets was a filling station, Naftogaz said, adding that the station’s premises and equipment had been completely destroyed and two employees had been injured, as reported by Reuters.

The cruise ship was carrying 25 crew members and two medical personnel as it reached Rotterdam, AP noted.

An AP journalist saw occupants wearing masks on the deck as the boat was escorted through the port by a tug boat and a Dutch police boat. Authorities say that the crew will enter immediate quarantine.

In other news, the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius has just arrived at the Port of Rotterdam, where it will be disinfected and its crew members will go into quarantine.

Morning opening: Who’s going to speak for Europe?

Jakub Krupa

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested last night that the time has come for Europe to pick its preferred negotiator for eventual peace talks with Russia.

After talking with the European Council president, António Costa, Zelenskyy said they agreed that “Europe must be involved in the negotiations,” and to “have a strong voice and presence in this process.”

“It is worth determining who will represent Europe specifically,” he said.

Easier said than done.

While the EU has no shortage of presidents – of the European Commission, of the European Council, of the European Parliament, to name a few – it still lacks a single figurehead that would make an obvious candidate for any tricky talks with Moscow.

Vladimir Putin’s cheeky suggestion of pro-Russian former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder was quickly shot down for his links with Moscow, but Europeans will have to reflect on who could represent its interests if and when the talks actually progress to that stage.

Meanwhile, Ukraine launched retaliatory strikes against Russia over the weekend, killing at least four, as it hit a number of strategic locations, including in Moscow.

“Our responses to Russia’s prolongation of the war and attacks on our cities and communities are entirely justified,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the strikes on Moscow showed Kyiv was “clearly telling the Russians: their state must end its war.”

But overnight Russia attacked again with over 500 drones and 20 missiles, with Zelenskyy urging Europe to do “everything possible to ensure reliable protection against this.”

I will keep an eye on this today.

Elsewhere, I will look at the US envoy Jeff Landry’s controversial visit to Greenland, bring you an update on the government formation talks in Latvia, and monitor several high-profile meetings of leaders across Europe, including new Bulgaria’s PM Ruman Radev’s visit to Germany.

It’s Monday, 18 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.