Brussels – The European Union is intensifying its push for a lasting peace in Ukraine, demanding concrete concessions from Russia that go beyond battlefield gains and focus on accountability and limitations on Moscow’s military capabilities. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas outlined a series of conditions Russia must meet, signaling a growing frustration with the pace of U.S.-brokered talks and a belief that European interests are not adequately represented in the current negotiations.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, Kallas asserted that Russia is currently at its weakest point since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is not a superpower,” she stated, pointing to limited territorial advances despite over a year of intense fighting and estimated losses exceeding one million casualties. “Russia barely overcame the lines of 2014 at a cost of more than a million casualties,” she added, noting the country’s economic isolation and increasing emigration.
The EU’s proposed framework for peace centers on placing the onus for concessions on Russia, rather than Ukraine, which Kallas argues has already borne a disproportionate burden. Key demands include the return of Ukrainian children reportedly abducted and transferred to Russian territory, limitations on the size of the Russian armed forces, and the payment of reparations for damages inflicted during the war. Critically, Kallas emphasized that there should be no amnesty for war crimes.
“We have just seen increased bombing by Russians during these talks,” Kallas said, referencing recent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during a particularly harsh winter. This, she argued, underscores a lack of genuine commitment to peace from Moscow. The EU is now developing what Kallas termed a “sustainable peace plan” designed to compel Russia to engage in serious negotiations.
While acknowledging the diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Kallas expressed concerns that the current approach may not adequately reflect European interests. She emphasized the need for European consensus and participation in any lasting peace agreement. “To have sustainable peace also, everybody around the table including the Russians and the Americans need to understand that you need Europeans to agree,” she stated.
Kallas’s proposals come as U.S. President Donald Trump has set a deadline of June for Ukraine and Russia to reach an agreement. The EU diplomat voiced skepticism about Russia’s true intentions, suggesting that “peace is not their objective.” She highlighted the EU’s commitment to bolstering its own defense capabilities and strengthening partnerships with allies as a response to perceived Russian aggression.
The EU is also actively working to expand its network of trade and security partnerships, with Kallas pointing to agreements with approximately 80 countries and the recent establishment of security ties with India, and Australia. She framed this expansion as a means of defending European values and promoting global stability, invoking a sense of collective strength and purpose. “Europeans, unite,” she declared, drawing a parallel to the Marvel superhero universe.
Kallas also addressed criticism of the EU from some in the United States, defending the bloc’s values and its commitment to progress. She rejected the notion of a declining or “woke” Europe, asserting that the continent remains a beacon of stability, prosperity, and democratic ideals.
