Russia Security Deal Without Europe

Key Points:

• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that Russia must pay for war damages in Ukraine, be held accountable for war crimes, and prevented from using any peace deal to rearm for further aggression, rejecting legal recognition of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory or limits on Ukraine’s military.
• Kallas warned that the EU would not implement any security agreement negotiated without its involvement, criticizing pressure on Ukraine during talks and affirming Europe’s existing security architecture through NATO and the EU remains valid despite Russian violations.
• She highlighted Russia’s attempts to force Ukraine into surrender by targeting energy infrastructure ahead of winter, noting recent civilian casualties and significant Russian troop losses, while the EU continues financial and military support to Ukraine and plans further sanctions on Moscow.
• Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed Kallas’s stance, insisting that no deals about Ukraine or Europe’s security should occur without their participation, and rejecting any restrictions on Ukraine’s sovereignty or military.
• Ukraine’s priorities for upcoming negotiations include security guarantees, energy ceasefire, de-escalation in the Black Sea, return of deported children, prisoner exchanges, increased European military aid, new sanctions on Russia, and accelerated EU accession progress.