EU's chief diplomat: "This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't"
Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said Europe will not ease its pressure on Russia following US President Donald Trump's agreement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on diesel supplies.
Source: Kallas on X (Twitter); European Pravda
Details: Kallas pointed out that Russian strikes have killed over 80 Ukrainian civilians in two days. Moreover, Russia has stepped up its hybrid attacks against Europe, both EU member states and NATO allies.
Quote: "Suspending sanctions on Russian diesel provides Moscow with more revenues to wage war. This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won't."
Details: Kallas also noted that on Monday, EU foreign ministers intend to approve the biggest set of sanctions listings targeting Russia's war machine since the start of the war.
Background:
- US President Donald Trump said the previous day that he had spoken with Putin and reached an agreement with him on supplies of Russian diesel fuel to the US and global markets.
- The Finnish prime minister has called the agreement a "terrible disappointment".
- Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has described the US president's decision as a major mistake and called for increased support for Ukraine to help it "turn Russian oil refineries into ruins".
- The German government has reaffirmed that Russian diesel will not enter Germany and that its support for Ukraine "remains unwavering".
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