Kallas accuses US of pushing Ukraine toward 'capitulation' for 1.5 years
In short
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the United States has for a year and a half been pushing Ukraine toward "capitulation", according to Russian outlets. Vedomosti reported she spoke at a plenary session of the European Parliament and said Ukraine can hold out only because of European support.
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EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused the United States of trying to push Ukraine toward "capitulation", RBC, TASS and Vedomosti reported on 20 October. RBC's summary said the aim was capitulation on Russia's terms. TASS quoted Kallas as saying the US has been "pushing Ukraine toward capitulation" for 1.5 years. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Vedomosti, Kallas spoke at a plenary session of the European Parliament. She said Ukraine is able to hold out in the conflict with Russia only because of European support. TASS said the conflict continues to this day only thanks to military supplies from the EU. [ 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti reported that Kallas also replied to some MEPs who said the EU has no plans to end the conflict. She said that was not so and that European countries want peace. She also commented on sanctions against Russia and said they work. [ 3 ]
Vedomosti added that on 20 October German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he regularly persuades US President Donald Trump to keep supporting Ukraine and European countries. Merz said European states are at the same time rebuilding their own defence systems to reduce dependence on outside partners. [ 3 ]
Vedomosti also said relations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have recently worsened. According to the outlet, Trump said it was time for Ukraine to change its leader and accused Zelensky of unwillingness to settle the conflict and of strikes on Russian oil refineries that provoke a rise in world fuel prices. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The reports show a public EU accusation against the US over its approach to Ukraine, made as relations between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have worsened, according to Vedomosti. The documents give no US reaction.
Key facts
- Kaja Kallas, the head of EU diplomacy, accused the US of trying to push Ukraine toward "capitulation". [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- TASS reported Kallas saying the US has been "pushing Ukraine toward capitulation" for 1.5 years. [ 2 ]
- Kallas said the conflict continues only thanks to European support, with TASS specifying military supplies from the EU. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Vedomosti reported that Kallas spoke at a plenary session of the European Parliament. [ 3 ]
- Kallas replied to MEPs who said the EU has no plans to end the conflict, saying this is not so and European countries want peace. [ 3 ]
- Kallas also commented on sanctions against Russia, saying they work, according to Vedomosti. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the US has responded to Kallas's remarks. None of the documents gives a US reaction.
- What Kallas said about the terms of the alleged push toward capitulation. Only RBC's summary mentions "conditions of Russia", and the outlet gives no further detail.