The key facts

  • Kallas: the US has been 'pushing Ukraine toward capitulation' for almost a year and a half; Europe must sit at the negotiating table for balance
  • Trump struck a deal with Putin on diesel fuel and eased sanctions until April 2027 without any Russian concessions
  • Zelensky told Bloomberg he feels betrayed by Trump; representatives of the EU, NATO, Germany, France, the UK and Poland arrived in Oslo

Harsh accusations against Washington

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas spoke on Tuesday in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, accusing the United States of pressuring Ukraine. 'American negotiators have been trying for almost two years — a year and a half — to push Ukraine toward capitulation,' she said. According to her, Ukraine has not surrendered on Putin's terms precisely thanks to Europe's support. The speech coincided with a new round of talks on Ukraine in Oslo, Norway.

Context of deteriorating US-Europe relations

Relations between the US and Europe deteriorated after President Donald Trump concluded a deal with Putin on diesel fuel supplies and eased sanctions until April 2027, without receiving any concessions from Russia. Trump called for new elections in Ukraine (banned during wartime) and complained that dealing with Zelensky was 'harder' than with Putin. In an interview with Bloomberg, Zelensky said: 'I believe steps have been taken to persuade Ukraine to capitulate,' and said he feels betrayed by Trump.

Europe's peace strategy and demands on Russia

Several MEPs complained about Europe's lack of a peace strategy. Kallas rejected this, citing a document presented to EU capitals with demands that Moscow must fulfil in a future settlement. 'If Russia puts forward its maximalist demands, we must put our maximalist demands on the table to balance the negotiations,' she said, adding that lifting sanctions is a European decision and Europe must be at the table. 'We are not giving these things away for free,' because peace must be 'long-term and just'.

Accusations against Russia

Kallas accused Russia of threatening Black Sea security through an armed blockade, 'piratising' food supplies and attempting to provoke global hunger. Romania and Bulgaria recently reported Russian drone strikes near their territorial waters. She also condemned Moscow for abandoning the energy truce and stepping up bombardments of Ukraine ahead of winter. 'The only one who does not want peace is Russia,' Kallas stressed, noting that Ukraine has been under shelling for a fourth year now, with a fifth underway.

The Oslo talks

Kallas is one of the loudest critics of Trump's pivot toward Moscow: last week she called the diesel fuel deal 'a gift to Putin'. Brussels, despite growing disagreements, insists on continuing cooperation with the US in order to influence the peace process and defend Ukraine's interests. On Tuesday, high-ranking representatives of the European Commission, NATO, Germany, France, the UK and Poland arrived in Oslo for another round of talks.