The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, stated that Russia is unwilling to participate in negotiations and emphasized that Europe should not demean itself by begging Moscow for dialogue. She made this statement during a conversation with journalists on April 30, commenting on the position of Estonian President Alar Karis regarding the necessity of negotiations with Russia.
This is reported by Finway
EU’s Position on Dialogue with Russia
Kaja Kallas reminded that back in 2021, Russia made demands on Europe, including a call for NATO to return to the borders of 1997. She emphasized that such demands are a typical tactic of the Kremlin—putting forward maximum claims that have no basis, and then blackmailing the West with ultimatums.
“So to say something like this (about the missed opportunity for negotiations – ed.) is clearly falling into these Russian traps. And it really means saying that the Russians always demand the maximum, ask for something that was never theirs, and then issue threats and ultimatums. And ultimately, there will always be people in the West who will offer them something. So let’s not fall into this trap,” she said.
EU’s Demands for Future Negotiations
Kallas also responded to questions regarding the risk that other states might reach agreements with Russia on unfavorable terms for the EU or the Baltic countries in the absence of dialogue from Europe. She stressed that there are currently no signs of Moscow’s readiness for any constructive negotiations.
“We should not demean ourselves by being ‘beggars’: ‘Please, we implore you to talk to us.’ But we must put them in a position where they actually move from pretending to negotiate to real negotiations,” the diplomat noted.
Kaja Kallas emphasized that the EU foreign ministers discussed their own vision of demands on Russia during a recent meeting in Cyprus. The main goal is to ensure that after the war ends, Russia does not pose a threat to any European country.
According to her, Europe must clearly define its own goals and principles for future negotiations with Moscow before any contacts begin.
Earlier, Estonian President Alar Karis stated in an interview with Yle that Europe made a mistake in 2022 by not forcing Russia to sit at the negotiating table immediately after the battle for Kyiv. He urged the EU to develop its own strategies in relations with Russia.