In February 2026, as the war in Ukraine approaches its fifth year and American negotiations in Abu Dhabi set the pace, Europe has suddenly remembered that “dialogue with Russia is necessary.” But this dialogue is no longer about peace — it is about securing a seat at the table that Paris, Rome, and Berlin fear losing forever.

The most vivid and recent example is the secret visit of Emmanuel Bonne, Emmanuel Macron’s chief diplomatic adviser, to Moscow on February 3, 2026. According to Reuters, Bloomberg, Le Monde, and French weekly L’Express, Bonne met with Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s key foreign-policy aide, directly in the Kremlin. The goal? To prevent a scenario in which Europe becomes a mere spectator to American-Russian deals. Macron himself confirmed on February 3 that “technical discussions” are underway to resume direct contact with Putin — all of it “transparent” and “in consultation with Ukraine” (Le Monde, February 5, 2026). Paris denies any “secrecy,” yet the fact that the visit became known through leaks rather than an official announcement speaks volumes.

The Kremlin, as usual, plays coy: spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it would “neither confirm nor deny” the meeting — “out of a sense of solidarity” with Paris (Anadolu Agency, February 5, 2026). Such mutual “delicacy” only underscores one thing: this is not about peace, but about dividing spheres of influence.

Italy is no less eloquent. Giorgia Meloni stated openly as early as January 2026: “The time has come for Europe to speak with Russia,” and proposed appointing a special EU envoy to Putin (Reuters, January 9, 2026; POLITICO, January 9, 2026). The Kremlin immediately called it a “positive signal” and a “significant shift” (Reuters, January 16, 2026). Meloni aligns with Macron: Europe cannot afford to let Trump — or anyone else — decide its continental security alone.

Germany is not standing aside either. Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared in January 2026 that Russia is a “European country” and called for a “rebalancing” of relations with Moscow (TASS, January 15, 2026; bne IntelliNews, January 15, 2026). The Kremlin promptly added Berlin to its list of “sensible” partners. After years of tough rhetoric under Scholz, this sounds like surrender to economic reality: without Russian energy and markets, German industry is suffocating.

And what about the classic “friends of Moscow”? Viktor Orbán makes no secret of anything: regular meetings with Putin, blocking EU sanctions and aid decisions, openly promoting “mediation” (The Guardian, January 30, 2026). Robert Fico in Slovakia continues to veto sanctions packages and calls support for Ukraine “fueling the war,” though he has recently softened his tone in talks with Macron (Bloomberg, January 30, 2026). Still, their stance is no longer a secret — it is official policy.

Why exactly now? The answer is simple and cynical: Trump is back, the United States is negotiating directly with Russia, and Europe risks being left on the sidelines. Paris fears that without a role in shaping the “security architecture,” France will lose its status as a great power. Rome and Berlin dread that without dialogue with Russia there will be no gas, no markets, and no calm on the eastern borders. Orbán and Fico are simply seizing the moment to finally dismantle EU unity.

The result is a moral and strategic failure. While Ukrainian cities are bombed again and the energy grid crumbles, European capitals are seeking “technical channels” to the Kremlin. This is not peace — it is an attempt to buy calm at someone else’s expense.

Sources (direct links to key publications as of February 5, 2026):

• Reuters on Bonne’s visit — https://www.reuters.com/world/french-presidents-top-diplomat-held-talks-moscow-tuesday-sources-say-2026-02-04
• Bloomberg on the purpose of the trip — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-04/macron-s-envoy-traveled-to-moscow-for-rare-meetings-with-russia
• Le Monde on Macron preparing talks with Putin — https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/02/05/macron-sends-his-diplomatic-adviser-to-moscow_6750175_4.html
• L’Express (original leak source) — https://www.lexpress.fr/secret-defense/guerre-en-ukraine-le-voyage-discret-du-conseiller-diplomatique-demmanuel-macron-a-moscou-43I2E2P3MNGCFIGWK5NHCZ3OU4/
• Reuters on Meloni’s statement — https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/meloni-urges-europe-talk-russia-sees-no-swift-return-g8-2026-01-09/
• TASS / bne IntelliNews on Merz’s remarks — https://tass.com/world/2071741 and https://www.intellinews.com/germany-s-merz-joins-calls-for-europe-to-restart-contacts-with-putin-420355

Europe faces a choice: preserve its principles and stand with the victim of aggression, or finally surrender its positions for the illusion of “balance.” Judging by recent weeks, the second option is looking increasingly attractive to Paris, Rome, and Berlin.