Kaja Kallas: Russia must reduce its army for peace in Ukraine.

According to ТСН: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stressed that to achieve a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine, Russia must take significant measures and reduce its military capabilities. Her comments came after a urgent meeting of EU foreign ministers, where they discussed a new peace plan that raised concerns among European allies over potential benefits for Moscow.

The aggressor must make concessions, not the victim

Kallas noted that any peace agreement should focus on making Russia permanently cease its aggression and renounce attempts to change borders. She emphasized that the EU's position on negotiations is clear.

"We have one aggressor and one victim. The focus should be on what Russia, the aggressor, needs to do, not on what Ukraine, the victim, has to sacrifice," declared Kaja Kallas.

Kallas also emphasized that the draft plan developed by the administration of former US President Donald Trump contained "no concessions" from Moscow.

Reduction of army and military expenses

She believes that the agreement should impose obligations on Russia, including limiting the size of its army and military expenses. Kallas warned that without such restrictions, aggression might recur.

"If you are spending almost 40 percent of your total state expenditures on your armed forces, you will want to use them again, and that threatens us all," the head of EU diplomacy emphasized.

She also stressed that rewarding aggression would serve as an incentive for its repetition.

"If aggression pays off, it will serve as an invitation to use aggression again and also in other places, and this is a threat to everyone in the world, especially for smaller countries. In Europe... there are only two types of countries: small countries and those that have not yet realized they are small," the diplomat stated.

Financing Ukraine: loan against Russian assets

Kallas also confirmed the intention to expedite the use of frozen Russian assets to secure a loan of 140 billion for Ukraine, despite Belgium's previous objections. This country, where most of the assets are held, has expressed concerns about possible Russian actions in response.

When asked about Belgium's position, Kallas described its concerns as "legitimate" and assured that the EU is working to reduce risks.

Experts such as American historian Dmytro Dovhopolyi believe that Ukraine is unlikely to be seeking a peace agreement. In their opinion, the current situation is developing towards a long-term freezing of the conflict, rather than moving towards peace.