EU and US Aligned on Keeping Pressure on Russia to End War, Says Kallas

The European Union and the United States agree that ending Russia’s war against Ukraine requires continued pressure on Moscow, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW) on January 31.

"It was Russia that started this war. And Russia can end it by stopping bombing civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as by withdrawing its troops from Ukraine. Therefore, we must put pressure on them (the Russian authorities). US President Donald Trump has made very tough statements against Putin. So, I think we have a similar vision of the situation," Kallas stated.

Following her first phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Kallas said she was convinced that both the EU and the US aim for a lasting peace in Ukraine rather than a temporary ceasefire.

"We need exactly the kind of peace that will make a new Russian attack impossible. We must remember that the Russian Federation invests nine percent of its GDP in the military industry. Therefore, we really have to be strong to send the right signals," she said.

Kallas announced on January 27 that EU foreign ministers had agreed to extend sanctions on Russia, stating that this measure would continue to limit Moscow's ability to fund its military operations. She also said that Russia "must pay for the damage it is causing."

Kallas informed US Secretary of State that the European Commission had proposed increasing tariffs on Russian agricultural products and fertilizers, a move she said could reduce Russia’s export revenues and its ability to continue the war.

On January 22, The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump had directed his special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, to end the war within 100 days of taking office.

However, the report noted that reaching an agreement with Putin could prove more challenging than Trump anticipated when he pledged during his campaign to resolve the war within 24 hours of returning to the White House.

Rubio previously stated that ending Russia's war against Ukraine would be a key objective of US foreign policy during Trump’s second term.

A recent New Europe Center poll found that 64% of Ukrainians oppose negotiations with Russia without Western security guarantees. While individuals aged 30-39 showed the most openness to talks, the majority rejected any territorial concessions in exchange for peace. Citing Russia’s past violations of agreements and the impact of occupation, most Ukrainians view such deals as unreliable.