EU Chief: Russia Does Not Want Peace

The doubt is great among the EU's foreign ministers about Russia's willingness to truly achieve peace in Ukraine. At the same time, the work on new support billions to Ukraine is dragging out.

» Published: March 17 2025

EU Chief: Russia Does Not Want Peace
Photo: Virginia Mayo/AP/TT

The EU's Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas hopes to get as many member states as possible on board with a package of approximately 440 billion kronor to Ukraine in 2025. The idea is that each country will contribute in proportion to the size of its economy.

However, a clear signal is delayed and is not expected to be clear during the EU leaders' summit on Thursday.

There is broad political support for the defense initiative. Right now, the details are being discussed, explains Kallas at the press conference after Monday's foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.

She welcomes the peace talks held between the USA and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, but is simultaneously skeptical about whether Russia really wants to negotiate peace or a ceasefire.

Russia does not really want peace. They are taking advantage of the opportunity to make all sorts of demands, which are actually their war goals, notes Kallas.

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen is on the same page.

I'm not particularly optimistic about Putin doing something. But I can be positively surprised, says Løkke in Brussels.

The EU's Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas has proposed support of 40 billion dollars to Ukraine, where each country contributes according to its economic strength. The idea is that it should be voluntary to participate, in the hope of preventing unwilling countries from stopping the entire support.

That Hungary, in particular, does not want to support Ukraine further is criticized by several of the other EU countries.

We're talking about Europe's existential interests and cannot be held hostage by one of the countries, says, for example, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys.

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By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald under license from TT

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