EU Diplomats Warn Against Ukraine's Territorial Concessions to Russia

Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, cautioned against Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia, viewing it as a manipulation by Putin. With ongoing skepticism about Russia's willingness to negotiate, both EU and Ukrainian officials are calling for credible security guarantees while underscoring the need for a strengthened Ukrainian military in the face of continued aggression.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's chief diplomat, issued a stern warning against the notion of Ukraine surrendering territories to Russia during future peace negotiations. In her first UK interview since EU leaders engaged in talks at Donald Trump's White House regarding Ukraine, she highlighted that allowing Russia to retain any Ukrainian land is a "trap" that President Vladimir Putin is engineering. The Donbas region, a long-contested area in eastern Ukraine, has seen substantial military conflict, displacing approximately 1.5 million Ukrainians over the last decade.

Ukraine has persistently rejected the notion of conceding Donbas as a trade-off for peace, even though Trump emphasized the idea of a "swapping of territories." Kallas, who has been marked by the Kremlin's "wanted list," elaborated on the necessity for "credible and robust" security guarantees for Ukraine. Currently, she noted, there are few tangible steps towards a deterring force in negotiations. Kallas asserted that a strong Ukrainian army remains the most potent security guarantee, underscoring the need for assurances that extend beyond mere promises.

Discussions took place recently with leaders from key EU states such as France, Germany, Italy, and Finland alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, shortly after Trump met with Putin in Alaska. Kallas suggested that Putin likely benefitted from the Alaska conference, obtaining concessions such as the avoidance of further sanctions. "He got everything he wanted," Kallas remarked, implying this would reduce his motivation to engage seriously in peace talks.

She mentioned that Russia had not made a single concession at this stage, a statement that underlined the EU's strategy of issuing the 19th package of economic sanctions to apply pressure on Putin. Meanwhile, Trump has signaled a two-week timeframe for assessment regarding peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine, hinting at potential changes in strategy if no progress is made.

Zelensky, for his part, voiced skepticism over Putin’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue, accusing Russia of sidestepping necessary negotiations. He further pressed Western allies to clarify their roles in security guarantees within a week to ten days, emphasizing the urgency. Following reported airstrikes by Russia, which resulted in casualties, Zelensky condemned the attacks as a disregard for global mediation efforts, and he conveyed the increasing frustration as Russia displayed aggressive actions while avoiding diplomatic engagement.

European leaders have echoed concerns about Putin's reliability, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressing skepticism about the likelihood of a bilateral meeting with Zelensky, while French President Emmanuel Macron labeled Putin as a "predator" and expressed doubts over his willingness to seek peace. Although Zelensky has expressed readiness to negotiate "in any format," he continues to see little indication of Russia's genuine interest in pursuing constructive discussions.