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EU’s Top Diplomat Drafts Conditions for Russia to End Ukraine War as U.S. Talks Stall
The European Union is preparing a list of demands for Russia as conditions for any sustainable peace agreement in Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The initiative comes as U.S.-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv show limited progress in ending a conflict that has raged for four years.
“We have just seen increased bombing by Russians during these talks,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels, pointing to Russia’s recent targeting of Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure during what has been the coldest winter of the war. She emphasized that while the EU appreciates American diplomatic efforts, a lasting peace requires European involvement.
“To have sustainable peace, everybody around the table including the Russians and the Americans need to understand that you need Europeans to agree,” Kallas stated.
The EU’s move comes amid growing concerns that the Trump administration’s approach to negotiations may not adequately represent European and Ukrainian interests. Despite President Trump’s earlier claims that he could end the war quickly, he has now given Ukraine and Russia until June to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, violence continues unabated. During the latest round of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi last week, Russian forces used cluster munitions in an attack on a Ukrainian market, killing seven civilians. While the talks yielded no breakthrough on major issues, they did result in an agreement for a prisoner exchange.
Kallas emphasized that the EU’s approach aims to shift pressure away from Ukraine, which she believes has been forced to make most of the concessions due to its dependence on U.S. support.
“Pressuring the weaker party is always maybe getting the results faster, but it’s only a declaration that we have peace. It’s not sustainable peace,” she explained. “It’s not going to be a guarantee for Ukraine or anybody else that Russia is not going to attack again.”
The EU’s draft conditions, expected to be shared with member states in coming days, may include demands for Russia to return thousands of children allegedly abducted from Ukraine and limitations on the size of Russia’s armed forces after the conflict ends. Kallas noted that Russia has insisted on capping Ukraine’s military capabilities while ignoring its own massive military expenditure.
“The Ukrainian army is not the issue. It’s the Russian army. It’s the Russian military expenditure. If they spend so much on the military, they will have to use it again,” Kallas warned.
The draft list of conditions could be discussed when EU foreign ministers meet on February 23, though Kallas clarified that the bloc does not intend to launch a separate peace process. She acknowledged that Russian officials appear to be waiting for the Trump administration to fulfill commitments they claim were made during a summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.
Kallas described Russia’s current stance as “absolute maximalist demands” that Europeans find unacceptable. Instead, she argued for changing the narrative and increasing pressure on Putin.
“Everybody wants this war to stop, except the Russians,” she stated. “We can push them into the place where they actually want to end this war. They’re not there yet. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy solution.”
The EU diplomat cited intelligence suggesting Putin is struggling to find military recruits and pointed to the impact of EU sanctions on Russia’s economy, where inflation remains high. These factors, she believes, could eventually force Russia to negotiate seriously.
“We need to go from the place where they pretend to negotiate, to where they actually negotiate, and we are not there,” Kallas concluded, underscoring the EU’s determination to achieve a peace agreement that addresses European security concerns rather than merely ending hostilities temporarily.
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8 Comments
The EU’s involvement could help ensure a more durable peace settlement, but Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure are concerning. Addressing those and other issues of security will be critical.
Targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure during peace talks is a concerning escalation by Russia. Any concessions they’re asked to make will likely need to address such acts of aggression and ensure Ukraine’s energy and civilian needs are protected.
While I appreciate the EU’s efforts, I remain skeptical that Russia will be willing to make significant concessions, given their strategic interests in Ukraine. Any peace deal will likely require tough compromises on all sides.
The EU seems to recognize the need for their involvement in negotiating a lasting peace settlement in Ukraine. With the US-led talks stalling, European leadership could be crucial to achieving a sustainable resolution.
Agreed. The EU’s perspective and priorities will be important to include, especially when it comes to ensuring Ukraine’s interests are adequately represented.
Interesting proposal from the EU to set conditions for Russia. Given the ongoing violence, any peace deal will need to address Ukraine’s security concerns and Russia’s actions. I’m curious to see what the specific demands will be.
The EU’s role in brokering peace could be valuable, given the different national interests involved. However, getting Russia, Ukraine, and the US to all agree on terms may still prove extremely challenging.
That’s a fair point. Balancing the demands of all key stakeholders will be crucial but also very difficult. The EU will need to thread a careful diplomatic needle.