Brussels | A divided EU has demanded a role in next week’s negotiations with Russia over the Ukraine crisis and broader issues of European defence, after Vladimir Putin succeeded in sidelining the bloc in favour of talks with the US and NATO.

EU officials speaking to the Financial Times expressed frustration at the way negotiations in Geneva and Brussels were arranged – with Russian officials set to discuss the security of Ukraine and the whole European continent with counterparts from Washington and the US-led military alliance. While US officials have remained in close contact with those in Brussels and in individual EU states, Washington has not sought to alter Moscow’s proposed negotiations.

Financial Times