Kallas Says US Negotiators Tried to Push Ukraine Into Surrender for 1.5 Years

Key Points:

• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused US negotiators of pressuring Ukraine to surrender to Russia over the past 1.5 years, asserting that Ukraine's resistance is due to continued European support.
• Kallas emphasized that Europe seeks a just and lasting peace settlement, rejecting temporary ceasefires that could enable further Russian aggression.
• She presented a "maximalist plan" for EU involvement in peace talks, stressing the importance of Europe having a seat at the negotiating table to protect its interests and counter Russia's demands.
• Kallas highlighted the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia, noting they have deprived Moscow of €1 trillion and urged maintaining pressure to prevent Russia from lifting these sanctions without concessions.
• She called for increased cooperation with African countries on Black Sea security, warning that Russian attacks on grain shipments threaten global food security beyond Europe.