Speaking to reporters in Limassol, Kallas said the debate over appointing a European envoy for potential peace talks with Russia risked distracting the bloc from maintaining pressure on Moscow and supporting Kyiv. Her remarks came as discussions within Europe intensified over whether and how to re-engage diplomatically with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It’s a trap that Russia wants us to walk into, that we discuss who talks to them, and they are already picking who is suitable, who is not,” Kallas said. “Let’s not walk into that trap.”

The meeting of EU foreign ministers took place against a shifting geopolitical backdrop, with U.S. President Donald Trump increasingly focused on tensions involving Iran while European officials assessed signs that Putin’s position may be weakening after more than four years of war in Ukraine.

Speculation over possible European negotiators has grown in recent weeks after Putin suggested former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a longtime ally of the Kremlin leader, could serve in such a role. The proposal was widely rejected across Europe.Several ministers attending the Cyprus talks argued that the European Union should nonetheless prepare for a future negotiating role.

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said Kyiv expected the bloc to organize itself politically and diplomatically for eventual talks with Moscow.“We should now get ready,” Meinl-Reisinger said, adding that she would push for the EU “to appoint a chief negotiator” capable of representing European interests and coordinating with Ukraine.

Other ministers cautioned against shifting focus away from sanctions, military assistance and diplomatic pressure on Russia. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the immediate priority should remain increasing costs for Moscow rather than debating representation.“This is not a time when we are discussing who is going to have the negotiations,” Budrys said.

“We have to discuss what we are doing to put additional pressure on Russia.”Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna warned that Europe risked undermining its own position if it moved too quickly toward the role of neutral intermediary. He said the bloc should continue pursuing what he described as “strategic patience” while supporting Ukraine’s objectives.

“Of course we can find, if the time is right, who’s going to represent Europe,” Tsahkna said. “But this is a trap now that Putin wants to bring Europe in.”He added that no immediate breakthrough in negotiations appeared likely.

“Whoever would like to go right now this guy is not going to have a Nobel Prize, because there won’t be any serious talks,” he said.

Iranian state media reported on Thursday that Araqchi made the remarks after an exchange with the Emirati delegation at the BRICS gathering, where divisions over the Iran war threatened efforts to issue a joint communique.

“I didn’t name the UAE in my statement for the sake of unity,” Araqchi was quoted as saying. “But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country.”

Iranian media did not specify the comments made by the Emirati representative that prompted the response.

The diplomatic dispute followed the UAE’s denial this week of claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he had visited the Gulf state during the ongoing Iran conflict.

Araqchi had earlier warned that countries “colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account,” remarks widely interpreted by regional analysts as directed toward Gulf states accused by Tehran of covert coordination with Israel and the United States.

The Iran war began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian facilities, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran against U.S. bases and other targets across Gulf countries.

Iranian officials have increasingly accused regional governments of facilitating military operations against the Islamic republic, particularly states hosting U.S. military installations.

According to Iranian state media, Araqchi argued during the BRICS meeting that reliance on U.S. military bases and security cooperation with Israel would not guarantee the UAE’s stability.

“We must live side by side in peace, and this requires peaceful relations and complete understanding between the two countries,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the UAE conducted military operations against Iran in early April. Reuters could not independently verify the report. Western and Iranian officials have also said Saudi Arabia carried out multiple unpublicized strikes against Iranian targets during the conflict.

The growing friction between Tehran and Abu Dhabi has complicated diplomatic dynamics within BRICS, the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and several recently admitted members, including Iran and the UAE.

Iranian media cited Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi as saying there were “problems and communications” within the summit process because of the UAE’s participation.

The meeting in New Delhi was expected to focus on geopolitical coordination, trade cooperation and reform of global institutions, but the Iran war increasingly overshadowed proceedings as member states struggled to reconcile competing regional interests.

According to an official statement, the exchange focused on developments in the region amid heightened geopolitical tensions, though no further details were provided on specific issues or outcomes of the discussion.

The call comes as countries across the region intensify diplomatic engagement in response to evolving security dynamics linked to the ongoing crisis involving Iran and its broader regional implications.

In a telephone conversation, Lavrov stressed the importance of preventing a return to armed confrontation and reiterated that the conflict has no military solution, according to the ministry’s statement.

The call followed recent talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan, which ended without agreement. Araqchi briefed Lavrov on the discussions, the ministry said, providing details of negotiations that failed to produce a settlement.

Russia has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the conflict, signaling willingness to engage diplomatically as tensions remain high despite a temporary ceasefire and ongoing international efforts to restart negotiations.

During the call, the ministers reviewed recent developments and discussed ways to reduce tensions and restore regional security and stability, according to the statement posted on X.

The contact comes amid a fragile ceasefire announced earlier this week following heightened hostilities that saw Iran launch strikes against Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, in response to Israeli and U.S. military actions.

The exchange signals a potential diplomatic opening between Riyadh and Tehran at a time of sustained regional volatility, with multiple fronts of conflict continuing despite the truce.