EU’s Kaja Kallas Rejects Putin’s Mediator Proposal, Slams Russia Over Ukraine Ceasefire

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]We have, um, Ukraine.

[00:00:03]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.

[00:00:16]Ukraine kept to the ceasefire, uh, like, you know, previously offered ceasefires unconditionally.

[00:00:23]Uh, what Russia didn't uh, really, uh, stand up to this. 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. There we have a lot of topics. Uh, we discussed the freedom of navigation and, uh, operation Aspides, whether there is appetite to, uh, really, uh, change the operational plans, as well, there, so that we can, uh, contribute to demining and and escorting the ships.

[00:01:01]And, of course, uh, we will also discuss, um, you know, uh, the different issues that have been on the table for quite some time. I expect political agreement on the sanctions of, uh, violent settlers. Uh, hopefully we'll, uh, we'll get there. Um, and there are other proposals put forward, by the member states, um, but, uh, that require, uh, 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, uh, move there. And then we have high-level political dialogue with Syria. As you know, we are also moving forward with, uh, unsuspending, uh, the cooperation agreement with Syria. We, uh, uh, will discuss, uh, where we can help, uh, Syria to build up institutions and all these, uh, issues, what they need, for, uh, you know, correct functioning of of the country.

[00:01:57]>> Thank you for our proposition of Putin.

[00:02:05]>> [clears throat] >> Uh well, um first, if we give the right to Russia to appoint 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. We need to use all the international uh support, also those countries who are dealing with Russia uh more closely. So, so we will discuss these these projects today as well, but it's definitely very difficult. Our adversaries are not sleeping. So, clearly, they want to increase the influence in Europe. We unfortunately all already see this in sports organizations where, you know, uh Russians are let to compete like nothing has happened. Um and there are discussions there. Um we also saw this Venice Biennale where, 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 as well. Before we 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 I've put on the table um to address the issues that we have.

[00:03:47]Because again, uh the issue of the European is that Russia is constantly attacking its neighbors and how we can actually prevent that and for that we need concessions also from the Russian side 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. We are discussing also when this point comes we are part of the security architecture of the Gulf because we see this in the same way it is our immediate neighborhood it has very much effects on us but of course right now the the push is for to have a 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 themselves and there is you know we can only support them but we can't really agree on their behalf. 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.

[00:05:07]So this is the announcement that Pentagon has made and of course there is still time to look into what it means practically.