The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is mocking any effort for peace in Ukraine. She made the statement ahead of an informal meeting of defence ministers in Denmark on Friday, 29 August.
“What we have to do is increase pressure on Russia—that is the thing they understand,” the EU High Representative said. She added that ministers would also discuss EU defence capabilities, now and into the future.
“It is clear that member states have different capability areas where we have to do more… we have to be very concrete and discuss concrete projects…”
Ms Kallas’ comments come after a deadly rocket and drone strike on Kyiv. The attack killed 23 people, including children. The EU mission in the Ukrainian capital was also damaged, though no staff were injured. The incident was condemned by world leaders.
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Sanctions and defence coordination
Friday’s meeting in Copenhagen was held to discuss both Russia’s war against Ukraine and the EU’s overall defence preparedness. Ms Kallas said work was underway on the bloc’s 19th package of sanctions, expected to be unveiled in the coming days. She indicated that the new measures could again target both the energy and financial sectors.
The EU is preparing to invest significantly more in defence since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and readiness has come to the forefront. In a speech at Chatham House in London in June, NATO chief Mark Rutte warned that Russia was rearming and could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years. He underlined the statement by adding “Let’s not kid ourselves, we’re all on the eastern flank now.”
Alaska summit proves even more hollow
Russia’s deadly night attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv came less than a fortnight after the Alaska summit between American President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, which produced no agreement. At the summit, Mr Putin refused to commit to a peace deal, or ceasefire, and the suggestion of willingness to meet again in trilateral talks also including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was heavily downplayed days later by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
It is unclear whether there is any path forward on that front following the latest aggression by Russia. EU leaders, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have called on Russia to “stop the killing” and come to the negotiating table—so far without result.
