Kaja Kallas acknowledges Europeans' fatigue with the conflict in Ukraine

Acknowledging fatigue at the EU–Canada summit

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, said that European leaders are finding it increasingly difficult to persuade the public to support Ukraine because 'everyone is tired' of the conflict. Speaking at the University of Montreal on the sidelines of the EU–Canada summit, she said: 'Of course, it is becoming increasingly difficult to explain to the European public that Ukraine must be supported, because everyone is tired of this war.' This was reported by Gazeta.Ru citing TASS.

A call to continue support

According to Kallas, the European Union and Canada should not pay attention to this fatigue — support for Kyiv must continue. Thus, the EU's chief diplomat effectively acknowledged a shift in sentiment within European societies, while at the same time setting out the line that this should not affect the policy of aiding Ukraine.

Context: statements about the talks and the reaction

The statement came against the backdrop of Kallas's sharper remarks earlier. On October 20, she statedthat American negotiators had been trying for a year and a half to 'force Ukraine to capitulate,' while stressing that Europe must be present at the negotiating table and put forward 'the most maximal demands' of Russia in order to 'balance' the talks and give Moscow a 'clear signal' of interest in all issues, including the lifting of sanctions. In response, the British analyst Alexander Mercouris expressed the viewthat Kallas is advocating the destruction of Ukraine and a Western defeat, arguing that the United States is allegedly pushing Kyiv toward capitulation. Earlier, the Council of the EU also disclosed the amount of funds allocated to Ukraine since 2022.