KALLAS: RUSSIA WANTS A WEAK EUROPE ACROSS THE TABLE
“The Russians don’t want anybody strong on the other side because they want to push through their maximum demands,” EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas said, warning that Moscow’s negotiating strategy has remained remarkably consistent.
Russia begins with threats and ultimatums, uses military force and then waits for someone in the West to offer concessions in the hope of restoring peace. Once those concessions are secured, Moscow moves further and repeats the process.
Kallas’s name has repeatedly been raised as a possible European representative in negotiations over Ukraine. As the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy—and a former prime minister of Estonia—she has been among Ukraine’s strongest and most consistent supporters. She has pushed for military assistance, tougher sanctions and a settlement that does not reward Russia for invading its neighbour.
Moscow strongly opposes her participation, but Kallas argues that Russia cannot be allowed to choose who sits across the table. Europe does not select Russia’s negotiators, so the Kremlin should have no veto over Europe’s representatives.
European leaders have now chosen a broader negotiating team involving EU institutions and Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland instead of relying on one envoy. Whether Kallas personally receives a seat remains uncertain, but her warning remains important: selecting only representatives acceptable to Moscow would give Russia leverage before negotiations even begin.
Some will argue that her uncompromising position could make negotiations more difficult. Others will say that this is precisely why Europe needs her—that negotiations with Putin require someone who understands Russian pressure and will not surrender Europe’s position merely to produce an agreement.
Would Kaja Kallas be the right person to represent the European Union, or would a larger European team present a stronger and more united front? What do you think?