EU shouldn't 'humiliate' itself by seeking direct talks with Russia, warns Kallas

Published connected 30/04/2026 - 18:20 GMT+2•Updated 18:22

The European Union should not "humiliate" itself by seeking nonstop talks with Russia to extremity the full-scale penetration of Ukraine, High Representative Kaja Kallas has said, urging the bloc to debar falling for Moscow's "trap" of maximalist demands.

"What we person seen truthful acold is that Russia does not privation to prosecute successful immoderate benignant of dialogue. We should not humiliate ourselves by being the 'demandeurs’ (saying) 'please, we beg you to speech to us'," Kallas said connected Thursday during an authoritative sojourn to Estonia.

"We should enactment them successful a presumption wherever they (the Russians) really spell from pretending to negociate to really negotiate."

Kallas said the substance would beryllium discussed connected 10 and 11 May, erstwhile EU overseas ministers are acceptable to conscionable informally successful Cyprus. The statement volition absorption connected the "requests" that the bloc should request Moscow fulfil successful a post-war scenario.

"Russia is gearing up its subject for a semipermanent confrontation with the West. Whether Putin dares to trial NATO astatine immoderate constituent depends wholly connected us. Deterrence works if it is credible. Showing weakness lone invites aggression," she said.

"There tin beryllium nary instrumentality to ‘business arsenic usual’ with Russia, adjacent aft Moscow ends this warfare successful Ukraine."

Her comments travel a time aft US President Donald Trump held a caller lengthy telephone telephone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. During the conversation, Putin suggested a brief ceasefire for the duration of the Victory Day celebrations successful Moscow adjacent week, which person been pared down owed to Ukraine's long-range strikes.

Reacting to the news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said helium had instructed his squad to clarify the details with the White House.

"Our connection is simply a semipermanent ceasefire, reliable and guaranteed information for people, and a lasting peace," Zelenskyy said connected Thursday.

"Ukraine is acceptable to enactment toward this successful immoderate dignified and effectual format."

Political split

Asked astir the US-brokered bid talks, Kallas said "there is thing happening there" and decried Washington's determination to assistance Moscow sanctions alleviation successful effect to the spike successful vigor prices triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The US argumentation stands successful stark opposition with that of the EU, which recently approved a caller bundle of economical restrictions against Russia.

"When we spot these calls betwixt President Trump and President Putin, determination are ever a batch of questions unanswered, considering that Russia is openly praising the heroic conflict that Iran is (waging) against America," Kallas said.

"Does it mean that determination is really besides much unit connected Russia due to the fact that they are helping Iran to combat a warfare against them? We would similar to spot that pressure, and we did not spot that successful that call."

The question of whether the EU should directly prosecute with Russia to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine came to the fore successful January erstwhile French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni backed the strategy successful successive statements.

Member states were sharply split. Austria, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg expressed support, portion Germany, Estonia, Lithuania and Cyprus opposed.

The statement mislaid traction aft the US and Israel struck Iran, and the diplomatic attraction heavy shifted to the Middle East. Today, the substance lies unresolved connected the table.

Last week, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever claimed the thought of EU-Russia talks had go "mainstream thinking" among his chap leaders.

"We cannot fto this warfare proceed for years, with each the quality suffering," De Wever said. "People are being slaughtered for nothing."