Kallas Warns Against Ukrainian Land Concessions to Putin

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has issued a stark warning against calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, claiming such suggestions play into a “trap” devised by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview with the BBC on March 15, Kallas criticized the notion that Ukraine should compromise on land as part of a peace deal, emphasizing that the Kremlin has yet to make any concessions.

“The discussion is all about what Ukraine should give up, what the concessions that Ukraine is willing to make, whereas we are forgetting that Russia has not made one single concession,” Kallas stated. She characterized Russia as the aggressor in the ongoing conflict, which has now entered its third year, highlighting the brutal impact of the war on Ukrainian civilians.

Kallas argued that yielding territory to Putin would only encourage further aggression. “This is exactly the trap that Russia wants us to walk into,” she stressed, reinforcing the need for a unified stance against Moscow’s continued military actions.

The timing of Kallas’s remarks coincides with a recent meeting between Donald Trump and Putin in Alaska. Trump later hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, at the White House. While Trump has publicly called for an end to the fighting, Kallas expressed skepticism about Russia’s willingness to engage in genuine peace talks.

“Russia is just dragging feet. It’s clear that Russia does not want peace,” Kallas said. She criticized the Kremlin’s response to international calls for a ceasefire, noting that “President Trump has been repeatedly saying that the killing has to stop and Putin is just laughing, not stopping the killing, but increasing the killing and increasing the bombings on Ukraine. You can’t possibly negotiate under bombs.”

Kallas emphasized that any credible peace process must start with a truce, supported by long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. “It is not just a truce or ceasefire but it has to be a long-term solution… that’s why we are discussing security guarantees so Putin doesn’t try again,” she explained. She further noted the critical role that the United States must play in these guarantees to ensure Ukraine’s security.

In a statement made on the same day, Trump commented that “Europe is the first line of defence,” while also indicating that the US would be involved in efforts to support peace in the region. He did not dismiss the possibility of deploying US peacekeepers to Ukraine, a move that could significantly alter the dynamics of the conflict.

Kallas also called for increased pressure on Moscow through sanctions, highlighting the potential leverage that Western nations hold. “The Americans have the leverage with sanctions and tariffs to pressure Russia to negotiations,” she stated, mentioning that the EU is preparing its 19th package of restrictive measures against Russia.

Reflecting on the Alaska meeting, she lamented that Putin had achieved political wins, stating, “Putin got what he wanted. He wanted the picture, but he got so much more. He got a welcoming in America and then he also wanted the sanctions not to be put in place, which he also achieved.”

As the situation evolves, Kallas’s comments underscore the need for a concerted international effort to navigate the complexities of the conflict and to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.