Europe
EU diplomacy
Costa's quiet line to Moscow splits the EU, and tests Luxembourg's nerve
European Council President António Costa opened a diplomatic back channel to Moscow without broadly consulting EU governments, igniting a rift at the 18-19 June summit. Germany called it an 'affront,' France and the Baltics objected, while Luxembourg's Luc Frieden took a more measured line — insisting Europe first define a united position before any talks with Russia.