Kaja Kallas said that Russia wants to lure us into a trap. Russia wants us to discuss who talks to them. At the same time, Russia itself chooses who suits them. "Let's not fall into this trap," said Kallas.
Kallas said it is very important to pressure Russia and Ukraine to engage in negotiations. Peace talks must begin with a sustainable ceasefire. Europe cannot be neutral because it supports Ukraine.
Earlier, Moscow proposed Gerhard Schröder as a mediator. Schröder is a former German chancellor and a friend of the Kremlin. Other names have also been suggested, such as Finnish President Alexander Stubb and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Kallas does not support these ideas.
Kallas said: "Negotiations are teamwork. What matters is the strategy, not who participates." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that Europe will decide for itself who participates in the negotiations, not Putin.
Ukraine wants Europe to participate more actively in the negotiations. Especially now that US attention is on the Middle East conflict. Ukrainian President Zelensky wrote that Europe must have a strong voice in the negotiations.
Europe does not want to take over the US role as a mediator. An EU diplomat said that Europe has supported Ukraine too much to become a neutral mediator.