Kallas says Russia must make concessions to prevent future conflicts

(MENAFN) EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas cautioned that without meaningful concessions from Russia, future wars could emerge even if Ukraine receives security guarantees.

In an interview with Italian news agency on Friday, Kallas emphasized that a lasting resolution to Russia’s war in Ukraine requires Moscow to alter its behavior and accept concrete limits on its military capabilities.

"The problem for peace is Russia. Even if Ukraine received security guarantees, but there were no concessions from Russia, we would have other wars, perhaps not in Ukraine but elsewhere," she said.

While welcoming renewed diplomatic efforts, including initiatives led by the US, Kallas noted that Russia continues to demonstrate no "genuine willingness" to halt hostilities, citing ongoing strikes on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

She stressed that a ceasefire must be the initial step toward any credible agreement and that sustainable peace depends on ensuring Russia cannot wage new wars. "For a sustainable peace, we must ensure that Russia doesn't attack again. We need concessions from Russia, whether it means limiting their army or curbing their military budget," Kallas said.

Reiterating the EU’s stance, she affirmed that there should be "no territorial concessions and no recognition of the occupation of Ukrainian land," emphasizing that borders cannot be altered by force. "And there should be no points in the European security architecture that give Russia a direct role," she added.

Regarding Ukraine’s potential EU accession by 2027, Kallas described it as a merit-based process determined by member states but suggested that US support could help overcome political hurdles within the bloc. "This proposal is a good sign for the country that's blocking Ukraine's progress, a country very friendly to the United States (Hungary): the US push for it could convince them to lift their veto," she said.

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