Brussels, 11 May (LaPresse) – ‘Europe will choose the negotiator.’ This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on his arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council, in response to a question about Putin’s proposal that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder should act as Europe’s negotiator in the peace talks on Ukraine. ‘The name 'should be chosen collectively by the countries of the European Union. It is important that Europe is part of the negotiations to achieve peace. Also because, having imposed sanctions on Russia, the European Union’s intervention is needed to lift the sanctions should the war end. Therefore, it will identify the best possible representative. Obviously, Russia does not choose the mediator on the European side’,’ he added. When asked if he has a name to suggest, he replies that “the member states, the Commission and the Council will assess this together” and that the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, “is certainly a prestigious figure”.