Russia wins more in talks than it does in combat, according to Kallas
Photo: EU High Representative Kaja Kallas (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The biggest threat Russia poses is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield.
This was stated by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas during her speech at the Munich Security Conference.
Kallas noted that Russia "barely advanced" beyond the 2014 frontline at the cost of 1.2 million casualties, while Moscow makes unrealistic demands at the negotiation table.
"Today, Russia is broken, its economy is in shreds, it is disconnected from European energy markets, and its own citizens are fleeing. In fact, the biggest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield," the EU diplomat said.
She also stressed that it is not so much about having a seat at the negotiation table as understanding what is being negotiated.
"How I see it is very simple. Russia's maximalist demands cannot be met with a minimalist response. Think about this: if Ukraine's military is to be limited in size, Russia's should be too. Where Russia has caused damage in Ukraine, Russia should pay," Kallas added.
According to her, compensation for the damage inflicted on Ukraine, the return of deported Ukrainian children, and no amnesty for war crimes are the minimum that Russia must accept if it truly seeks peace.
Ukraine–Russia negotiations
In January and February, two rounds of trilateral talks were held in Abu Dhabi between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.
Recently, the Kremlin announced a third meeting, scheduled in Geneva for February 17–18.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that this time the Russian delegation at the talks will be headed by Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky, known for creating Russian pseudo-history and spreading Kremlin propaganda narratives about Ukraine.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will also send Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin to the Geneva negotiations. He is known as a proponent of a "hardline approach" toward Ukraine.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov later reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already approved the Ukrainian team. The delegation includes the same members who participated in the Abu Dhabi talks – unlike the Kremlin, Ukraine made no changes.
During a press briefing in Munich, Zelenskyy noted that the Kremlin changed the head of the Russian delegation in talks with Ukraine and the US. It appears Russia wants to delay a decision on ending the war. However, Ukraine will not allow this.
