Could influencers crash future EU summits?

Brussels Playbook Podcast

POLITICO

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.4 • 202 Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ukraine wants Europe more involved in peace efforts with Russia — but who exactly would represent Europe in those talks? After Vladimir Putin floated former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a possible negotiator, Brussels reacted with disbelief. Host Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack the growing debate around Europe’s role in future peace negotiations, including Nick’s interview with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Zoya’s conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on why Ottawa is moving closer to Europe on Ukraine, defense and security. Then: Europe’s latest attempt to get ahead of the artificial intelligence boom before it spirals out of control. From a new child-focused AI safety institute unveiled in Copenhagen with Ursula von der Leyen and Hillary Clinton, to Belgium’s push for an AI “coalition of the willing.” And finally: Influencers could soon get access to EU summits, doorsteps and press conferences as part of a new European Council pilot project. Do you have a name in mind? Send us your recommendations on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Some follow the noise.
0:03.3	Bloomberg follows the money.
0:05.4	Because behind every headline is a bottom line.
0:09.3	Whether it's the funds-fueling AI or crypto's trillion-dollar swings,
0:13.8	there's a money-side to every story.
0:16.5	And when you see the money-side, you understand what others miss.
0:20.9	Get the money-side of the story., you understand what others miss. Get the money side of the story.
0:22.9	Subscribe now at Bloomberg.com.
0:27.7	Good morning. It's Tuesday, May 12, and this is the Brussels Playbook podcast.
0:44.0	The mood in Brussels today is negotiatory.
0:45.9	Just made up a new word, Nick.
0:49.2	Brussels is full of talk once again about who could and absolutely could not represent Europe in future Ukraine peace talks.
0:54.7	Also on the pod, the EU wants to childproof AI before big tech gets too far ahead of regulators.
1:01.1	And influences could be coming to future European Council meetings with their selfie sticks and their ringlights.
1:08.2	I'm Zoya Shadolovich and with me today is Nick Vinica. Hey Nick. Hey.
1:12.1	What do you think about these selfie sticks influences? They're going to be crowding us out
1:16.9	in press conferences at the European Council summits. I'm still stuck on negotiatory as a brand new
1:22.9	word. All the English language, we had to invent a new word to describe divide today, but it's
1:28.5	spot on. Well, hat tip to Deonis, our producer, because that's where that idea came from.
1:33.8	Thanks, Deonis.
1:37.0	Our first story today, Nick, it's about something that connects what we spoke about yesterday
1:41.4	before the Foreign Affairs Council. It was a pretty heavy Ukraine
	...

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