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“Europe must be at the table” of peace negotiations for Ukraine, said the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, in an interview given to the European news agencies participating in the European Newsroom (ENR).
After her meeting with the US Vice President, J.D. Vance, yesterday in Paris, Kaja Kallas spoke of a “very good meeting,” emphasizing that “it is important for the US to remain our closest ally.”
During the meeting, among other things, the US approach and plans regarding Ukraine were discussed. “The outcome of the consultations will affect what happens in Europe,” and therefore “Europe must be around the table,” said K. Kallas, ahead of her meeting in Munich with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as well as with the special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, and US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz.
“Whatever the agreement, the Europeans and Ukrainians are the ones who will implement it, so there is no agreement without the Europeans and Ukrainians,” stressed Kaja Kallas.
On the Middle East issue, the head of European diplomacy reiterated once again that the EU supports the two-state solution. At the same time, she acknowledged that Israel is concerned about its security, but noted that if Palestinian rights are not respected, there will be no security for Israel either. “Now we must build a sustainable and lasting peace,” said K. Kallas, emphasizing that the big question is the future governance of Gaza, since Hamas should not regain control. She stressed that any solution to this problem should involve the EU as a key player in developments.
Asked to comment on US President Donald Trump’s statement that the US would evacuate Gaza from its population to rebuild it and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” Kaja Kallas reiterated the EU’s position that “people cannot be forcibly moved and any land grabs would be illegal.” She also noted that all interested countries have already rejected this idea from the US President.
Regarding the upgraded role of Turkey in Syria and the related implications, K. Kallas said it is a matter “we are monitoring” and that the new leadership of Syria assured us that they will not make rash decisions and will respect good relations with all countries in the region, such as Cyprus and Greece. She also noted that all involved parties in the Syrian issue are closely monitoring developments on the ground and will judge based on actions and facts.
Finally, concerning the possibility of fully substituting the potential absence of American assistance henceforth in any direction, the EU High Representative stressed that Europe neither has the financial capacity nor the intention to fully replace the US in their current international role. However, she added that nonetheless, Europe plays a significant role in international funding for humanitarian reasons. (02/13/2025)