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The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has criticised the United States for not using its leverage over Russia in the context of the war against Ukraine. In an interview with the AFP news agency, she said that the ceasefire announced by Russia on Easter was just a delay for the Kremlin, not a real step towards peace.
“Russia has not honoured the ceasefire. They are playing political games, stalling for time and not seeking real peace,” Kallas said. According to her, Moscow is convinced that time is working in its favour, and therefore, it is not showing any goodwill.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump last week threatened to withdraw from the peace process if he did not see progress from Kyiv and Moscow. At the same time, he expressed hope that a peace agreement could be reached “this week”, promising large economic benefits to both sides if the war ends.
Kaja Kallas believes that Russia’s Easter truce was a strategic move designed “not to irritate Trump” and give him reasons not to change his position on the Kremlin.
“The US has all the tools to put pressure on Russia. They just don’t use them. If Washington now refuses to support peace without exhausting all possibilities, why?” asked Callas, stressing that US passivity could jeopardise global security interests.
She also expressed fears that the Trump administration might distance itself from the conflict while trying to reach its own agreements with Moscow.
“It’s dangerous to try to make a deal with the aggressor without taking into account the reality,” she stressed.
Among the EU’s concerns is the possibility that the US will recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. Kallas said that this would be a catastrophic mistake that would only encourage the Kremlin to continue its aggression. “Crimea is Ukraine. The European Union will never recognise it as part of Russia,” she stressed.
Currently, the EU is virtually excluded from the negotiations, but the US recognises the need to involve European partners, given the broad sanctions policy against Russia coordinated by the EU.
Callas stressed that there can be no concessions on the issue of sanctions until Russia demonstrates real steps towards peace.
On Wednesday, the UK is hosting an important meeting on Ukraine with representatives from Kyiv, the US and France. Europe hopes that the pressure on Russia will be coordinated and decisive.
