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| chief Kaja Kallas |
The European Union’s foreign policy chief has stated there are “zero indications” Russia is ready for a genuine ceasefire in Ukraine, pushing back against a US-led peace plan that European officials say was drafted without their input. Kaja Kallas said the war must end with a focus on concessions from the aggressor, not the victim .
Kallas spoke after a video meeting of EU foreign ministers, where the group discussed the ongoing conflict. She stressed that while everyone wants the war to end, how it ends is critically important. “We must keep in mind that there is one aggressor and one victim,” Kallas stated . She described an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as the necessary first step, but said Russia is not winding down its military efforts. Instead, it is ramping them up .
The EU’s top diplomat argued that the battlefield situation is pushing Russia toward talks. “Putin cannot achieve his goals on the battlefield, so he will try to negotiate his way there,” she said . She pointed to Russia’s failed summer offensive and the significant impact of US and EU sanctions on its economy as reasons for this shift. The goal, she said, is to move from a situation “where Russia pretends to negotiate to a situation where they need to negotiate” .
The press conference came amid a flurry of diplomacy surrounding a reported 28-point peace plan drafted by the United States. The plan, details of which were first reported by media outlets, would require major concessions from Ukraine . These include ceding territory currently held by Ukrainian forces and reducing the size of its military . When asked if European leaders had been consulted on this plan, Kallas replied, “Not that I know of” . She and other European ministers emphasized that for any peace plan to be successful, it must have the support of both Ukrainians and Europeans . Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stressed that Europe, as Ukraine's main financial and military supporter, must be involved in such decisions .
A particular point of contention in the proposed plans is the focus on limiting the size of Ukraine’s military. Kallas called this a “trap” and argued that the focus should instead be on curbing Russia’s military power . “If we want to prevent this war to continue, then actually we should curb the army of Russia and also their military budget,” she said . She noted that Russia is spending close to 40% of its state budget on the military, which she called a threat to everyone. Because Ukraine has never attacked Russia, she said, the international community should not fall into the trap of discussing caps on the Ukrainian army . European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this, stating that as a sovereign nation, Ukraine cannot be left with limitations that make it vulnerable to future attacks .
The diplomatic moves are happening under pressure. US President Donald Trump had initially given Ukraine a deadline to agree to a deal, though he later waived it . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation as “one of the most difficult moments in our history,” saying Ukraine faces a stark choice between its sovereign rights and the risk of losing a key partner’s support . He has held calls with European leaders, who pledged their continued backing . Meanwhile, the Kremlin has sent mixed signals, with President Vladimir Putin cautiously welcoming the US plan but his aides later stating that Russia has not yet made any concessions on key issues .
Kallas used the press conference to reaffirm the EU’s core principles. “We reaffirmed our shared principles: sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence,” she said. “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” . She also highlighted the broader threat posed by Russia, noting it has attacked 19 other countries in the last 100 years, none of which had ever attacked Russia first . For any peace to be lasting, Kallas concluded, it must ensure that “Russia never attacks again” .