"Russia aims to see the US and Europe split. Let’s not allow that," EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas told Euronews.
On Wednesday, during an appearance on Euronews' Europe Today, Kallas stated that there is "no division" between Brussels and the administration of President Trump. He called for unity between these parties as they confront Russia’s aggressive actions towards Ukraine.
Kallas additionally mentioned that the ongoing discussions amount to "shuttle diplomacy," and he noted that Europe will secure a place at the table once formal negotiations for a peace agreement commence.
She stated, 'Currently, there isn’t a table where Russia and Ukraine are engaging directly. It’s shuttled diplomacy,' adding this comment one day later. a call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin concurred upon a 30-day pause in attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities.
"Of course for any deal to work you need Europeans around the table to agree to the deal. Because the implementation of the deal needs to be in the hands of Europe."
When asked for her reaction to the conversation between Putin and Trump, Kallas commented, "It's quite positive to observe such developments. Trump clearly stated that assistance to Ukraine wasn’t part of their discussion. However, Putin claimed it was addressed. In this case, I find myself more inclined to believe Trump over President Putin."
According to reports, Putin demanded that the West halt its deliveries of military aid to Ukraine as a precondition for the limited 30-day ceasefire. Trump later claimed in an interview with Fox news that military aid was "not discussed."
Trump also hailed that call as "productive", but the limited ceasefire agreed falls short of the comprehensive halt to fighting on land, sea and air that the US President had hoped to secure.
Putin will keep going if Ukraine's defense weakens.
Kallas also expressed skepticism about Putin's intentions and the viability of the 30-day truce he concurred with Trump.
"To make the ceasefire effective, there needs to be a show of strength. If everyone lets their guard down, we've seen what happens—Putin doesn’t adhere to these truces," she explained.
If he desires the guards to be less vigilant on the Ukrainian side, he will get his wish, and I have no doubt he will persist with this approach.
Kallas has proposed releasing an impressive €40 billion in new military aid for Ukraine. If this plan is approved, it could significantly increase the supply of artillery ammunitions, air defense systems, missiles, drones, and fighter jets to the country.
The draft proposal, recently seen by Euronews , would see "participating countries" pitch in with pledges, meaning it would not require the unanimous approval of all 27 EU member states.
It’s also open to like-minded non-EU member nations, including the United Kingdom and Norway, indicating a move towards a “coalition of the willing.”
When EU leaders meet in Brussels for their summit on Thursday, Kallas' proposal will come under discussion. It remains unclear if the €18 billion loan, which would draw funds from confiscated revenues generated by Russian assets within the EU, will form part of this strategy.
The EU executive is also expected to unveil a paper later on Wednesday with concrete proposals on how to ramp up Europe's defences.
As we grow stronger, the chances of war diminish," Kallas stated. "It’s crucial that we increase efforts towards our defense. Additionally, we must support Ukraine even further because the more powerful they become on the battlefield, the more leverage they will have during negotiations.
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