EU ruled out as mediator in Ukraine negotiations, Kallas explains
Head of European Diplomacy Kaja Kallas (Photo: Getty Images)
The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, has dismissed the idea of appointing an EU special envoy to negotiate with Russia. According to her, the European Union will never be a neutral mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, reports Euronews.
Kallas stated that the EU openly supports Ukraine and defends its own security interests.
"One thing is very clear: Europe will never be a neutral mediator between Russia and Ukraine, because we are on Ukraine's side and we are defending our own security interests," Kallas said.
She emphasised that the EU cannot treat both sides equally, as it has supported Ukraine from the very beginning.
At the same time, the European diplomat added that Kyiv needs the EU’s active involvement to balance the negotiation process and secure concessions from Russia.
According to her, although the US is focused on the war in Iran, that does not mean the EU should replace Washington in the peace process.
"All our efforts have to be complementary to US efforts. And the ministers were also very clear about this," Kallas explained.
What Ukraine expects from the EU
Euronews also reports that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who arrived at the EU officials’ meeting in Cyprus, stated that the EU should focus on concrete and realistic steps. Among them, he mentioned the demilitarisation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the creation of humanitarian corridors.
"We do not need to start by choosing a person or a group to lead the effort. We need to clarify the mandate, and it must represent one united European voice," Sybiha said.
The article also cites US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the current state of negotiations. Rubio suggested that the peace process could resume in the near future.
"The US stands ready and prepared to help do whatever we can to help facilitate the end of this war, and hopefully the opportunity will present itself at some point," he said.
During the meeting in Cyprus, the issue of appointing an EU special envoy for direct negotiations with Russia took a back seat.
Potential candidates previously mentioned included Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Council President António Costa, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
How the EU is ready to participate
Kallas also stated that the EU should focus on developing a common position on the concessions to be demanded from Russia, as well as defining red lines.
Among them are the non-recognition of Russian-occupied territories, an end to sabotage, cyberattacks, election interference, and airspace violations, payment of reparations, return of abducted Ukrainian children, release of journalists, as well as the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia and Moldova.
As reported, Kallas also said that consideration should be given to limiting Russia’s ability to rearm, especially if a future peace agreement includes restrictions on the size of the Ukrainian army.
According to her, she has already prepared a confidential document listing the conditions and concessions, which have been discussed by EU countries since February and is constantly updated. At the same time, it remains unclear whether all 27 member states will be able to support it unanimously.
