Kallas Urges Europe Not to Fall Into Trap of Security Architecture Talks
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas says a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine must come before any discussion of European security architecture. She argues such talks distract from the need for a truce.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said that a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine must come before any talks on European security architecture. She spoke on arriving at an informal EU summit in Dublin, according to the Ukrainian outlet European Pravda.
Kallas first welcomed a statement by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the US president, that Europeans would be present at peace negotiations. She said she hoped the EU would genuinely have influence. She also expects the bloc to remain consistent and hold to its position: first a truce and a peace agreement, and only then any other discussions.
"First of all there must be a ceasefire, and then any other discussions about European security architecture, which only distract from the fact that we need a truce," she said.
Kallas believes that talks on security architecture would play into Russia's hands. "If we start talking about European security architecture, we walk straight into the trap Russia has set for us. And we lose sight of the fact that there is still no ceasefire. There is an aggressor and there is a victim. The aggressor should have no concerns about security, because it was the one that attacked the victim," the diplomat stressed.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal likewise believes that Russia is using the topic of a new European security architecture to divert Europeans' attention.
US request to Russia
According to media reports, the United States has asked Russia to submit a new proposal for a future security agreement with Europe. It would include steps by Russia aimed at easing tensions in relations.
