In Finland, Kallas says she would answer a call from Putin or Lavrov
In Finland, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that she would answer a call from Russian President — of the aggressor state — Vladimir Putin or Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. At the same time, she stressed that the European Union should not begin dialogue with Russia on its terms.
Readiness for contact
In an interview with YLE News, Kallas said she was ready to talk if there was an opportunity to do so. She noted that she had already sat at the same table with Lavrov, including at ASEAN and G20 meetings, and directly presented him with the EU's position.
According to Kallas, the EU cannot currently play a direct mediating role between Ukraine and Russia because it supports Ukraine in the war. At the same time, negotiations will raise issues whose implementation depends on decisions by European countries.
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Position on Moscow's demands
Kallas believes that Russia is conducting negotiations by putting forward demands for things that never belonged to it, then threatening and expecting proposals from the West. In her view, the aggressor should not be rewarded for the attack.
She also suggested that Russia may demand the return of frozen assets. According to Kallas, such issues should not be resolved free of charge, and the EU should counter Moscow's maximalist demands with its own maximum demands in order to maintain a balanced negotiating position.
Commenting on the contacts of Americans Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff with Moscow and Kyiv, Kallas expressed hope that there are people in this process who better understand Russia's methods of operation. She warned that putting pressure on the victim of the war to give up land and people for the sake of a quick end to hostilities would not lead to a just and lasting peace.
