Kallas on Alaska meeting: Putin wants a photo with Trump and to delay sanctions
Photo: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not seriously committed to negotiations with US President Donald Trump in Alaska. He wants to take a photo with the American leader and delay sanctions, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said this in an interview with Suspilne.
According to her, the US has leverage over Putin, but this leverage must be used wisely.
Kallas said that it was evident from the fact that Putin was now sitting down at the negotiating table, but it was clear what he wanted — an opportunity to take a photo with President Trump, the most influential person on Earth, and then to have the threat of sanctions postponed in order to pretend he was negotiating so that the threat would disappear.
She emphasized that the outcome of the meeting in Alaska must be an unconditional ceasefire, so that real negotiations between Ukraine and Russia can begin.
Kallas also believes that Putin is not serious about the talks; otherwise, the President of Ukraine would also be present.
She said that President Zelenskyy had to be part of the meeting, but it was clear that Putin did not want him there. According to her, this was because he was not serious about any peace negotiations. If he were serious, he would want to speak directly with Zelenskyy, since the war was taking place in Ukraine, between Russia and Ukraine. She stressed that to achieve any results or real negotiations, talks had to be held with those directly involved — namely, with Ukraine and President Zelenskyy.
The EU’s top diplomat stressed that the West must put pressure on the aggressor to make concessions he has not yet made, and all the pressure must be directed at the aggressor, not the victim.
Trump’s meeting with Putin
On Friday, August 15, a meeting is scheduled between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Yesterday, the US president stated that he plans to demand that Putin end the war. Trump aims to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Ukraine during the upcoming meeting with the Russian leader.
Earlier, Trump also mentioned the possibility of a "territory swap" between Ukraine and Russia, including the return of some lands.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded that the territorial issue is enshrined in the Constitution and that Ukraine will not give up its lands to the occupiers. The Ukrainian president also emphasized that Russia is promoting the idea of such an "swap" without any guarantees.
Read more about what Ukraine can expect from the Trump-Putin meeting in the RBC-Ukraine material.
