The EU’s top diplomat has cautioned against pressuring Ukraine to cede territories to Russia in a peace deal. In a UK interview, Kaja Kallas emphasized that allowing Russia to retain Ukrainian territories is a “trap that Putin wants us to walk into.” The Donbas region, contested by Russia, has seen significant conflict, displacing 1.5 million Ukrainians over the past decade. Despite Trump’s call for “swapping of territories,” Ukraine opposes conceding Donbas for peace.
Kallas, on the Kremlin’s “wanted list,” discussed “credible and robust” security guarantees for Ukraine, stressing the need for strong Ukrainian military forces. She noted the lack of “concrete steps” for deterrence in talks, outlining the need for member states of the “coalition of the willing” to determine their contributions.
EU leaders met with Ukraine’s President Zelensky after Trump hosted Putin in Alaska. Kallas criticized the summit, stating Putin secured his goals, affecting his willingness to negotiate peace. She highlighted that the EU introduced a 19th sanctions package to pressure Russia.
Trump set a two-week timeframe for evaluating peace talks, suggesting a change in approach afterward. However, Zelensky doubted Putin’s meeting interest, accusing Russia of avoiding necessary discussions. He urged Western allies to clarify security guarantees within a week to ten days. Zelensky condemned Russia’s air attacks on Ukraine, which struck 11 locations, causing casualties.
European leaders echoed concerns about Putin’s reluctance for peace talks. Finnish President Stubb and French President Macron expressed skepticism about Putin’s intentions. Despite willingness to meet Putin “in any format,” Zelensky noted that Moscow shows no genuine engagement in negotiations.