Kallas made these comments in her first UK interview following peace talks involving EU leaders and Donald Trump at the White House. She emphasized that allowing Russia to retain Ukrainian territories, particularly in the contested Donbas region, would validate Putin's aggression and contribute to ongoing conflict. Kallas underlined that Ukraine has continuously rejected the notion of territorial swaps, a point brought forth by Trump during negotiations.
As tensions remain high, Kallas emphasized the necessity for "credible and robust" security guarantees for Ukraine, highlighting that a potent Ukrainian army is the most reliable deterrent against further attacks. She mentioned that member states in the "coalition of the willing" need to assess their capabilities in supporting Ukraine, with no clear approach established yet.
The recent talks also saw leaders from France, Germany, Italy, and Finland discuss the situation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, shortly after Trump had met with Putin in Alaska, which Kallas criticized for benefiting Russia significantly. She stated, "Putin got everything he wanted," expressing concerns that this would adversely affect future peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Trump set a two-week timeline for determining the progress of peace talks, while Zelensky expressed skepticism regarding Russia's willingness to engage in discussions, emphasizing the need for a clearer understanding of security guarantees from Western allies.
Zelensky condemned a recent bout of airstrikes by Russia, asserting that such actions indicate Moscow's avoidance of constructive negotiations. The sentiments were echoed by several European leaders, who expressed doubt about Putin's commitment to peace, dubbing him untrustworthy and malign.
In conclusion, while Zelensky remains open to discussions with Putin, he and other EU leaders are presently skeptical of Russia's intentions and the prospect of achieving a meaningful peace agreement.
As tensions remain high, Kallas emphasized the necessity for "credible and robust" security guarantees for Ukraine, highlighting that a potent Ukrainian army is the most reliable deterrent against further attacks. She mentioned that member states in the "coalition of the willing" need to assess their capabilities in supporting Ukraine, with no clear approach established yet.
The recent talks also saw leaders from France, Germany, Italy, and Finland discuss the situation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, shortly after Trump had met with Putin in Alaska, which Kallas criticized for benefiting Russia significantly. She stated, "Putin got everything he wanted," expressing concerns that this would adversely affect future peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Trump set a two-week timeline for determining the progress of peace talks, while Zelensky expressed skepticism regarding Russia's willingness to engage in discussions, emphasizing the need for a clearer understanding of security guarantees from Western allies.
Zelensky condemned a recent bout of airstrikes by Russia, asserting that such actions indicate Moscow's avoidance of constructive negotiations. The sentiments were echoed by several European leaders, who expressed doubt about Putin's commitment to peace, dubbing him untrustworthy and malign.
In conclusion, while Zelensky remains open to discussions with Putin, he and other EU leaders are presently skeptical of Russia's intentions and the prospect of achieving a meaningful peace agreement.
