FULL REMARKS: EU’s Kaja Kallas Rejects Putin’s Suggestion of Gerhard Schröder as Negotiator | AC1Z

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[00:00:00]Really, but uh we have a very long and busy day ahead. So, first uh we will uh greet our Western Balkan friends, and uh and this is uh also great opportunity to discuss what more can we do. They are interested in our cooperation regarding uh you know, standing up to the hybrid threats that they are facing. Also, we are discussing this cooperation. In return, we of course expect reforms that from them so that we can also move on with the enlargement.

[00:00:31]And then, we have um Ukraine.

[00:00:35]Of course, uh you know, we saw that this uh ceasefire that uh Putin wanted was only very cynical um to to protect his parade, whereas they were actually attacking civilians in Ukraine. Ukraine kept to the ceasefire uh like uh you know, previously offered ceasefires unconditionally. Uh what uh Russia didn't uh really uh stand up to this.

[00:00:59]But, today we also uh expect to move forward with the sanctions targeting those people uh who are uh helping uh to to uh you know, uh work with the Ukrainian children that they have deported uh from from Russia from Ukraine. And we also have a high-level event regarding the uh Ukrainian uh children, how to really uh bring them back, what more the international community can do because this is uh this is awful uh what is done to these uh children. And then, we have a minister former minister of Canada here. Of course, our relationship with Canada is better than ever. We are very like-minded partners, and we discuss what more can we do together also on the international uh forum.

[00:01:48]And then, of course, uh Middle East. Um there we have a lot of topics. Um we discuss the freedom of navigation and uh operation Aspides, whether there is appetite to uh really change the operational plans as well there so that we can contribute to demining and escorting the ships.

[00:02:09]And of course, we will also discuss you know, the different issues that have been on the table for quite some time. I expect political agreement on the sanctions of violent settlers.

[00:02:23]Hopefully we'll we'll get there.

[00:02:26]And there are other proposals put forward by the member states, but that require you know, anonymity or qualified majority in cases where we don't actually have it. So So let's see whether member states are willing to move there. And then we have high-level political dialogue with Syria. As you know, we are also moving forward with unsuspending the cooperation agreement with Syria. We uh uh will discuss uh where we can help uh Syria to build up institutions and all these issues what they need uh for uh you know, correct functioning of of the country. And then um I think that's it.

[00:03:09]>> [laughter] >> Yes. How do you feel about proposition of Putin to appoint Gerhard Schröder as negotiator for European Union and all these ideas of Moscow to withdraw the strong troops from Donbas to start sustainable negotiation?

[00:03:24]Uh well, um first, if we give the right to Russia to appoint uh negotiator on our behalf, you know, that would not be very wise. And second, I think Gerhard Schröder has been the lobby high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies. So it's clear why Putin wants him to be the person so that actually, you know, he would be sitting on both sides of the table. High Representative, just to follow up on that. What needs to be done to really bring back abducted children?

[00:03:57]What are the concrete steps that uh you can also help with?

[00:04:01]Uh yes, this is this is a very good question because it's very very hard. Uh with the prisoners of war, you can exchange them, but because Ukraine hasn't deported any Russian children, you can't really exchange children to children. So, that's why it's much more difficult. Um as I said, we are putting forward sanctions targeting those people who are dealing with these children to to really give out the message that that you are also responsible. Uh we have different um uh options and proposals on the table uh as well um how to uh negotiate uh with the Russians to get the children back.

[00:04:41]Uh but um and there we need to use all the international uh support, also those countries who are dealing with uh uh Russia uh more closely. So, so we will discuss these uh these projects today as well, but it's definitely very difficult.

[00:05:09]about children.

[00:05:12]Uh well, clearly uh our adversaries are not sleeping. So, clearly uh they want to increase the influence uh in Europe.

[00:05:19]We unfortunately all already see this in sports organizations where you know, uh Russians are let uh to compete like nothing has happened. Um and there are discussions there. Um we also saw this uh Venice Biennale uh where uh you know, they are there uh like nothing has happened. So, so clearly uh they are working all the time and we have to be vigilant, uh, as well.

[00:06:01]Uh, yes, we will have a meeting, high-level political dialogue with the foreign minister of, uh, Syria. Um, many topics there, of course, uh, the worries that we have regarding the camps in, in Syria, uh, what can we do there, but also the institutional build-up of Syria. We have a lot of expertise in trying to help, uh, to build strong institutions because without the institutions, you can't really have a functioning country. For us, it is important that the minorities, all the minorities, are taken into account, uh, in the, in the government. Um, the inclusivity is important and that's why, uh, we are also, uh, offering our help in, in, uh, drafting the constitution, the different laws, uh, that are necessary, uh, so that they could actually have, uh, elections. But of course, there's a lot of work to be done and and we will sit down and discuss, um, their needs and of course, our offer as well.

[00:06:57]>> How do you think the European Union be, uh, preparing for talks with Russia about the future of the European security architecture and do you think the EU needs a special representative for this?

[00:07:09]Uh, well, first, uh, before we, um, discuss with Russia, we should discuss amongst ourselves what we want to talk to them about and that's why we have, um, Gimnich meeting coming with the foreign ministers where we will discuss, um, the proposals that are put on the table, um, to address the issues that we have because again, uh, the, uh, issue of the European security is that, uh, Russia is constantly attacking its neighbors. Um, and how we can actually prevent that and for that, we need concessions also uh, from the Russian side. I was just last week in Moldova. I mean, there are Russian troops, for example, that could be also one of the conditions to to have, you know, stability and security in the region that they take their troops away. But there are, of course, a lot of questions related to what are our requests to Russia in order to have stable and peaceful Europe.

[00:08:19]Um well, currently, when we tested this on Friday with the ambassadors, it seems that we don't have the a necessary majority to pass these these measures. So so we will also discuss the French Swedish proposal um regarding the trade with settlements, but that also requires a commission proposal that is currently not there. But but really, what more can we do? I really do hope that we have a political agreement regarding the violent settlers sanctions that has been on the table for quite some time, but I hope we can actually go forward.

[00:09:23]Yes, we will address these issues because also the question of minorities and their rights to have education in their own language in in Syria. So of course, more broader, Um, the all the majorities or all the groups that are uh, living in Syria, but of course, the Kurds issue also comes up. That's it.

[00:09:45]>> a question to the NATO about the situation in Iran.

[00:09:49]Mr. Trump today rejected the Iranian deal or whatsoever going there. We are promoting the a political solution. Can you tell us what are you exactly, aside of promoting political solution, and again, as we discussed earlier, planning now to change the plans? Is it going to leave the international coalition? What role is going to play?

[00:10:13]Um, yes. Um, so, uh, as I said, we are supporting the diplomatic solution and we are engaged also with those uh, countries who are mediating the two uh, parties. We are also engaged with the Gulf countries um, because we have the same worries. Um, even if there is ceasefire, um, that there's also long-term talks about the threats that Iran poses to the region.

[00:10:37]That's not only nuclear, where we have actually offered our expertise because we have um, the experts who have negotiated nuclear deals before, uh, but it's also the issue of uh, other threats that Iran poses um, to its neighborhood.

[00:10:53]The proxies, um, the missile program, um, the also their hybrid and and cyber activities uh, in Europe. So, so we are discussing also when this point comes, um, that uh, we are part of the security architecture of the Gulf because we see this uh, in the same way. It is our immediate neighborhood. It has very much effects on us. But of course, right now, um, the the push is for to have a uh, you know, the first phase, which is stopping the war, opening the Strait of Hormuz, and there, of course, Americans and Iran are you know, negotiating um, themselves and there is, uh, you know, we can only support them but we can't really agree on their behalf. I beg your pardon. What does the withdrawal of US troops from Germany actually mean and wouldn't the troops actually strengthen the NATO Eastern flank in case they are getting redeployed there?

[00:11:52]Uh well, there is troop deployment all the time happening in Europe that troops are moved so that's really not not something new. I think it is important that the American troops also stay in Europe because, you know, they are protecting American interests in Europe as well as European interests.

[00:12:15]So, this is the announcement that Pentagon has made and of course there is still time to look into what it means practically. So, thank you very much.

[00:12:25]Please, just one question, please. About Western Balkans, what do you expect today from the Western Balkans ministers and what will be your message to them today?

[00:12:34]Um we will discuss, of course, enlargement. What more can we do so that they move on with the reforms.

[00:12:42]We will discuss also the cooperation regarding them standing up to the hybrid threats that are also posed in Western Balkans. We have had good experience and practice from Moldova. Now we are also working with Armenia. Western Balkan countries ask the same because they also see their attacks against their democracy. We are discussing security and defense, especially also Montenegro's security and defense partnership with Montenegro, for example. And what we expect from them is also alignment with our foreign and security policy and the reforms that they have to do. How will you engage more in Belgrade-Pristina Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, please? Yes.

[00:13:28]Well, we had it actually planned the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, high-level political dialogue. I had the I mean both agreement from both leaders from Kosovo as well as Serbia, but now we have elections in Kosovo coming up again, which is of course pushing this forward. But I'm working separately with both of them so that we can move on with the implementation of the agreements that are already in place.

[00:13:57]Thank you.