EU ministers to discuss possible Russia negotiations later this month, Kallas says
Photo: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The European Union is not ready to talk to Russia until it defines its own position. And that is why EU foreign ministers are gathering at the end of May, says Kaja Kallas at the EU Council meeting in Brussels.
Kallas explained why the Gymnich format meeting - an informal summit of EU foreign ministers scheduled for May 27-28 - is needed.
"Well, first, before we discuss with Russia, we should discuss among ourselves what we want to talk to them about," she said.
On the agenda are proposals regarding key security issues. The main one, according to Kallas, is that Russia continues to attack its neighbors.
Kallas recently visited Moldova, where Russian troops are still stationed. She called their withdrawal one of the possible conditions for stability in the region.
"But there are, of course, a lot of questions related to our requests to Russia in order to have a stable and peaceful Europe," she added.
Schröder as negotiator: Why the EU rejects the idea
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin proposed appointing former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a negotiator between Russia and the EU. Kallas responded to the proposal.
"Well, first, if we give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, you know, that would not be very wise," she said.
Also, Kallas recalled that Schröder had long acted as a lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies.
"It's clear why Putin wants him to be the person, so that actually he would be sitting on both sides of the table," she said.
Kallas also did not comment on Moscow's idea that Ukraine should withdraw troops from Donbas to begin negotiations as acceptable.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War analyzed the Kremlin leader's recent statements and concluded that the rhetoric about the end of the war is aimed primarily at a domestic audience, as there are no real signals of ending the aggression.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will visit Brussels to take part in the EU Council meeting and talks with NATO leadership.
