"Concessions in a peace settlement must be mutual for Ukraine and Russia," said Kallas
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stated that any concessions made as part of potential peace agreements must be mutual—not only on the part of Ukraine, but also on the part of the Russian Federation.
She made this statement in comments to journalists.
According to Kallas, the European Union had previously drawn up a list of basic requirements for the Russian Federation, including compliance with international obligations, respect for the sovereignty of neighboring states, and a renunciation of aggression against other countries.
She emphasized that these principles form the foundation of European security.
Separately, Kallas noted that if Ukraine is required to accept certain military or security restrictions during negotiations, then similar restrictions must also apply to Russia.
She also emphasized that the broader security context is important for the EU, specifically the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia and Moldova, and an end to external interference in the internal affairs of other countries
Kaja Kallas acknowledged that this position is maximalist; however, she said, Russia is demonstrating a similar approach by putting forward its own tough demands in international negotiations.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized a statement by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who described discussions on the return of occupied territories as haggling over “a few square kilometers.” The head of state emphasized that the American official is not directly involved in the negotiation process and therefore does not understand the true significance of Ukrainian lands.
