Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, spoke about Russia’s war against Ukraine. She made her remarks on February 15 during a discussion at the Munich Security Conference.
Kallas on Russia’s Position
Kaja Kallas said Russia is in a weak position after years of military aggression. However, it continues its attack because it hopes to gain advantages in peace talks.
“Let’s be clear-eyed about Russia. Russia is no superpower,” the diplomat said.
She stressed that Russia’s economy is broken. Europe is cutting Russia off from its energy markets, and many citizens are leaving the country. Kallas noted that Russia has barely moved beyond the 2014 front lines. She added that the aggressor has paid a huge price for the invasion. According to her, Russia’s losses amount to 1.2 million killed and wounded.
Kallas on Peace Negotiations
Kallas said the key in negotiations is knowing what demands to make. She argued that Europe cannot respond minimally to Russia’s maximalist claims.
“The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield,” she said.
Kallas also stated that if Ukraine’s Armed Forces face limits in size, the same rule should apply to Russia’s army. She said Russia must pay for the damage it caused in Ukraine. She also insisted there should be no amnesty for war crimes. Kallas added that Ukraine’s children must return home. She called these demands the minimum Russia must accept if it truly wants peace. She stressed that Europe now holds a different view.
Kallas on Europe and the United States
Kallas also pushed back against US criticism of Europe.
“Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is not facing civilisational erasure,” she said.
She referred to earlier claims about the fact that America and Europe are intertwined. In her view, this point is important. Kallas noted that Europe and the United States do not agree on every issue, and this will remain the case. She stressed that European defence “starts in Ukraine.” It depends on how Russia’s war ends, as the United States pushes efforts to stop the fighting.
European officials at the Munich conference said Europe must take the lead in resisting Russian aggression. They also questioned US reliability due to Donald Trump’s controversial policies.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that the US administration is unsure whether Russia is fully commited to peace in its war against Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this at the Munich Security Conference on the morning of February 14.
