EU Rejects Merkel-Macron Call for Leaders’ Talks With Putin
- Germany and France say the EU needs to engage with Russia
- Leaders from across the bloc opposed idea of rewarding Putin
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European Union leaders rejected an appeal from Germany and France to hold formal talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, handing Angela Merkel a rare public defeat at what could be her final EU summit as chancellor.
The proposal was dropped from the final communique following talks that stretched into the wee hours of Friday. EU diplomats had earlier said that some countries in Eastern Europe were prepared to veto the plan, such was the strength of their opposition.