The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaia Kallas advised European leaders not to put themselves in a vulnerable position and "humiliate" themselves by asking Moscow for negotiations.
“So far we have seen that Russia does not want to participate in any dialogue. We should not disgrace ourselves by initiating negotiations. You know, we ask you to talk to us“, Kallas said after a meeting of ministers from Northern Europe and the Baltic republics, Politico reports.
Instead, according to Kallas, the goal should be to free the Kremlin from the "pretense of negotiations and focus on real ones negotiations“.
The publication notes that her statement was made against the backdrop of increasing pressure from the EU on Moscow on several fronts. The leaders finally unblocked a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine and approved the 20th round of sanctions targeting Russian banks. The publication believes that these actions were intended to demonstrate that Europe is still capable of acting decisively and supporting Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin is offering a limited ceasefire on Victory Day, shortening the May 9 parade for the first time in 20 years, a sign of tension after months of losses and Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia.
At the same time, Europe is being forced to rethink its defenses. Kallas warned that Russia is “preparing its armed forces for a long-term confrontation with the West“. and that “showing weakness only provokes aggression“.
Therefore, “a return to the previous state of affairs with Russia is impossible“, said Kallas.
Kallas had previously stated that Russia gains more at the negotiating table than it achieves on the front, and this is the biggest threat.
According to her, Russia “has barely advanced“ beyond the 2014 front line at the cost of 1.2 million casualties, yet continues to make unrealistic demands during the negotiations.
However, since the start of the US war against Iran, the negotiations on Ukraine have stalled, although Turkey recently offered to host a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.