EU Eyes Future Security Deal with Russia, Despite Ukraine War | António Costa

European Council President António Costa has signaled a willingness to explore future security agreements with Russia, even as the war in Ukraine continues and tensions remain high. Speaking to students at Sciences Po in Paris on Tuesday, Costa stated that the European Union will “one day negotiate a security agreement with Russia to prevent future conflicts after Ukraine,” according to a report from German news outlet euractiv.de.

Costa acknowledged the geographical realities of Europe, stating, “Of course, we must in the future talk about a new security architecture for Europe with Russia, because you cannot change the geography, and Russia will remain our neighbor.” He added that the EU hopes for a “peaceful neighbor” that does not pose a threat to its security, a sentiment that drew applause from the audience.

The remarks came in response to a student’s question about whether the EU should pursue a more “pragmatic” relationship with Russia and engage in “meaningful diplomacy.” The student reportedly suggested that the EU had acted as if nearly half of the European continent was not part of Europe.

Costa detailed the EU’s past attempts to maintain good relations with Russia, citing Germany’s long-standing reliance on Russian fossil fuels as an example. He noted that in 2022, “we finally understood. Russia does not want contact with Europe,” but emphasized that the EU could no longer afford to be naive about the threat posed by Moscow.

In a separate, pointed criticism, Costa also rebuked the United States for failing to warn European countries about potential attacks on Iran, according to the euractiv.de report.

The discussion also touched upon the ongoing dispute over a proposed €90 billion EU aid package for Ukraine, which is currently being blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán despite his previous agreement. Costa addressed the issue by defending the EU’s requirement for unanimity in such decisions, stating, “We must respect unanimity – that is a big challenge, but at the same time a great achievement of the European Union. We are not a federal state built by colonial powers in which the indigenous population has been largely replaced.”

He followed this statement with a diplomatic assessment of the relationship with the United States, saying, “Let me try to be diplomatic: The United States is a friend, a partner and an ally.”

As of Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the EU continues to grapple with internal divisions over how to address Russia, and the proposed aid package for Ukraine remains stalled. No further meetings between EU leaders and Russian officials have been publicly scheduled.