Kallas Urges European Parliament To“Open Its Eyes”: Russia Is The Only Obstacle To Peace

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said this during a debate in the European Parliament on the urgent need for EU support for Ukraine amid the escalation of Russia's military aggression, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

““I know that there are people in the European Union - in particular, I have heard some Members of the European Parliament - who for some reason believe that Ukraine is an obstacle to peace. So I tell you: open your eyes - Russia is the only obstacle to peace,” she stressed.”

She recalled the brutality of the latest wave of Russian escalation in Ukraine.

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“July and August were the deadliest months for Ukraine's civilian population since the beginning of this war. As the Russian army has become bogged down in ground fighting, Russia is killing civilians from the air. If Russia's initial plan was to invade a sovereign country and seize someone else's territories, its goal today is even more unacceptable. Russian troops are now attacking Ukrainians indiscriminately and brazenly,” she said.

As an example, she cited the fact that Russia has destroyed about 90% of Ukraine's food storage infrastructure over the past several months, adding that the EU is currently helping Ukraine increase its grain storage capacity.

“We already know what Russia is preparing for this winter: intensifying attacks on energy facilities to make life even more unbearable for ordinary Ukrainian families,” Kallas stressed.

She noted the EU's ongoing efforts to prepare Ukraine for the cold season.

“This year, the European Union has allocated €75 million to repair and insulate homes, as well as to provide essential items, including warm clothing, blankets, mobile water purification stations, and generators. Preparing for winter is a priority second only to military support and strengthening air defense,”Kallas said.

The High Representative also recalled the Kremlin's attempts to sow fear among Europeans in order to undermine their support for the Ukrainian people.

Read also: European parliament calls for hybrid attacks to be recognized as form of warfare, names Russia as greatest

“Whether it is attacks on trains carrying foreign senior officials or attacks carried out as close as possible to NATO borders, Putin's goal is to intimidate the West,” Kallas said.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented on an incident in which a Russian frigate fired signal flares at a Danish helicopter, as well as the downing of a drone over Lithuania. She said that the EU is strengthening collective deterrence and defense together with NATO, while also increasing pressure on Russia.

Photo: Kaja Kallas / X

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