EU chief diplomat Kallas says she would answer call from Putin or Lavrov

Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said she would answer a call from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin or Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov if such a call took place.

Source: Kallas in an interview with Yle, Finland's national public broadcasting company, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kallas pointed out, however, that she does not support starting dialogue with Russia on Russia's terms.

Quote: "Of course, I will talk if such an opportunity presents itself."

More details: Kallas said that she already met Lavrov at international forums, including ASEAN and G20 meetings, and set out the EU's position to him directly.

She said Moscow negotiates skilfully. Kallas believes Russia puts forward maximum demands, issues threats and waits for concessions from the West. Ultimately, she said, the Kremlin tries to secure things it did not previously have.

She also appeared to be sceptical about the efforts of US presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who have travelled to Moscow and Kyiv over the past year and a half in search of ways to bring peace to Ukraine. Kallas believes the process should involve people with a better understanding of how Russia operates.

In her view, if the aim is to end the war quickly, the simplest way is to force the victim to give up what it is defending – namely its land and its people. However, Kallas pointed out that this would not lead to a just and lasting peace.

She also said the European Union cannot currently act as a full-fledged mediator between Ukraine and Russia because it supports Kyiv.

She noted, however, that any negotiations would inevitably include issues whose resolution depends on Europe – for example, the fate of frozen Russian assets.

Kallas said the EU must make it clear that such matters cannot be decided solely through dialogue between Moscow and Washington.

Background:

• It was reported earlier that Jonathan Powell, the UK prime minister's national security adviser, believes it is necessary to maintain contacts with Russia.
• On 6 September, US special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the task of the American delegation which visited Kyiv and Moscow was to "bring the sides closer together".

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