Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, addressed the recent meeting in London between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which took place on June 7.
Speaking to reporters prior to an informal gathering of EU defense ministers in Cyprus, Kallas emphasized the EU’s role in facilitating dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, while considering European interests. “We must ensure that Russia and Ukraine engage in conversation, as ultimately, they are the ones who need to reach an agreement. At the same time, we must remember our key European security interests,” she stated.
Kallas elaborated on the issues pertinent to the EU, including potential easing of sanctions and the unfreezing of Russian assets. She noted that EU member states had recently held discussions regarding their demands from Russia.
“We also need to see respect for our core European security interests. The five points promoted by the ‘coalition of three’ mention these key interests,” she added.
Regarding Russia’s willingness to negotiate, Kallas expressed skepticism. “We observe an escalation in their attacks. They must first agree to a ceasefire and come to the negotiating table. However, we also see some movement within Russia; not everyone is satisfied with the continuation of this war. Therefore, we need to increase pressure,” she remarked.
Kallas underscored the need for Europe to exercise “strategic patience.” She asserted, “We are not the ones asking for negotiations—Russia must engage with us if it wishes to end this war. It must begin with a ceasefire.”
Following the London meeting, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, and Ukraine issued a joint statement highlighting the necessity of European involvement in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, outlining five conditions for a just peace.
- The first condition is an immediate and complete ceasefire, with a call for President Putin to agree to this.
- The second condition states that the current line of conflict should serve as the starting point for negotiations, emphasizing that international borders cannot be altered by force, and Ukraine’s sovereign right to choose its security mechanisms and alliances must be fully respected.
- Thirdly, once a ceasefire is in effect, Ukraine should receive reliable and legally binding security guarantees based on commitments made in Berlin in December 2025 and in Paris in January 2026, which would include the deployment of multinational forces in Ukraine.
- The fourth condition stipulates that Russian assets will remain frozen until Russia ceases its aggressive war and compensates Ukraine for damages caused by the conflict.
- Lastly, any agreement must safeguard European security interests, requiring consent from both the EU and its member states, as well as NATO allies for any negotiations involving the EU and NATO.
President Zelensky arrived in London on June 7 for discussions with Macron, Merz, and Starmer, following reports that the leaders of the UK, France, and Germany intended to meet with him to explore ways to engage Russia in negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, discussed the importance of dialogue between Ukraine and Russia following a meeting in London with European leaders. The leaders outlined five conditions for peace, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty.