European countries pushing for a seat at the negotiating table on the Ukraine conflict feel sidelined, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

Speaking to RT, Ryabkov said European governments seeking to join the peace process were clearly frustrated by their exclusion. He argued that Europe remains unwilling to accept the settlement proposals Moscow has consistently advocated, viewing Russia’s position as unacceptable.

The Russian diplomat also pointed out that European countries have shown similar resistance to initiatives put forward by the US administration.

His remarks follow statements by Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation at the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, who said Europe would be able to participate in negotiations on Ukraine only when its representatives developed a conscience.

Earlier, US presidential special envoy Jared Kushner called on European countries to appoint a single representative to negotiate with Russia on their behalf. He suggested that reaching an agreement on such a candidate would itself constitute a major achievement.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov also highlighted the lack of consensus among European leaders, noting that they had yet to agree on a common negotiator. According to Ushakov, it remains unclear whom the European Union intends to engage in talks over a potential settlement of the conflict.