The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas made the call on Wednesday to increase pressure on Russia in order to strengthen the chances of success of the American initiative to end the war in Ukraine. TASR informs about it according to the report of the DPA agency.
- Kaja Kallasová called for increased pressure on Russia because of the war.
- Proposed steps include sanctions and financial support for Ukraine.
- Sanctions have a significant impact on Russia’s economy.
- It seeks to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
- The European Commission plans to present a legal text on frozen assets.
“In order to achieve the best possible outcome for Ukraine and Europe, we must continue to stick to the chosen course, but we must accelerate the pace,” said Kallasová after negotiations with the ministers of foreign affairs of the EU member states and their Ukrainian counterpart Andrij Sybih.
“This means more sanctions to deprive Russia of the means to fight, and more military and financial support for Ukraine,” she added. Kallas emphasized that although there are currently no indications that Russia is ready to agree to a cease-fire, the goal of putting Moscow in a position where it will be forced to actually engage in negotiations is approaching.
“Russia’s summer offensive was not successful. US and EU sanctions have a huge impact on the Russian economy,” she said, adding that Moscow’s economy and revenues from the energy sector are declining. “Russia is losing money and soldiers. If Russia could conquer Ukraine militarily, it would have already done so,” stated Kallasová.
However, as Russian President Vladimir Putin fails to achieve his goals on the battlefield, “he will try to negotiate his way to them”, argued the head of EU diplomacy. According to her, Kyiv must therefore receive the greatest possible support in the ongoing peace efforts.
“There are few wars in the world where the situation is as clear-cut as in this case. We have one aggressor and one victim. The focus should be on what Russia has to do as the aggressor, not on what Ukraine has to sacrifice as the victim.” she said.
In the ongoing discussion about the use of Russian assets frozen in the EU for Ukraine, Kallasova called for a quick decision. The so-called According to her, the reparation loan is the “clearest way” to cover Ukraine’s financial needs for 2026 and 2027.
“It would be the strongest signal to Moscow that it cannot just wait and we have to take this decision quickly,” said Kallas. The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Wednesday that The Commission will present a legal text on the use of frozen Russian assets as a loan to Ukraine.
Von der Leyen together with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have been promoting the so-called reparation loan to Kyiv from frozen Russian assets in the Union in the amount of 140 billion euros. The initiative would help finance Ukraine’s needs over the next two years. However, most of the assets are located in Belgium, which has so far blocked this plan and called on the EC to considered alternative methods of financing, including taking on new debt.
