According to Adresseavisen, Kaja Kallas described the US as wanting to split Europe and not liking the European Union, adding that the US approach resembles tactics used by EU opponents. She said that reading the US national security strategy and national defense strategy should leave no illusions, referring to White House documents from December and January that advocated cultivating resistance in Europe and calibrating US military support. During a G7 meeting, Kallas asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio when the US would put harder pressure on Russia.
According to Aftonbladet, Rubio responded, 'If you think you can do better, go ahead,' raising his voice. Kallas pointed out that Rubio had said a year ago that if Russia complicated US efforts to end the war, the US would lose patience and take more action, but a year has passed and Russia has not moved. Rubio said the US is doing its best to end the war and only supports Ukraine, for example by providing weapons.
I wouldn't contradict those two (articles) because they have been always coexisting.
After the exchange, several European ministers stressed they still want the US to continue diplomatic efforts between Russia and Ukraine. Rubio and Kallas had a short private conversation after the meeting. A US State Department official said it was an open exchange of views and that is what diplomacy is for.
Rubio denied any tensions or criticism, saying no one shouted or raised their voice or said anything negative. Kallas said there is nothing happening in the US-brokered peace talks and decried Washington's decision to grant Moscow sanctions relief due to energy prices. According to Aftonbladet, Kallas described the US easing of sanctions on Russian oil as a dangerous precedent because Russia should have less money to wage war, not more.
There's a very strong European pillar in NATO that is there and is actually stronger now because we are all making more investments in our defence.
She said the US policy contrasts with the EU's recent approval of a new package of economic restrictions against Russia. 7) and NATO's collective defence (Article 5) as complementary, not contradictory. 7 allows a member state under armed aggression to request assistance from other member states, which can take various forms such as military, economic, diplomatic and medical aid.
Article 5 of NATO states that an armed attack against one ally shall be considered an attack against them all and explicitly mentions military force as a possible response. According to Euronews, Kaja Kallas described the EU as not humiliating itself by seeking direct talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. She said the matter of EU demands for Russia in a post-war scenario will be discussed at an informal EU foreign ministers meeting on 10 and 11 May in Cyprus.
It is in no way that if Article 5 is not working, then we can go for 42.7. These are complementary to each other.
She said Russia is gearing up its military for a long-term confrontation with the West and that deterrence works if credible. She said there can be no return to business as usual with Russia even after the war ends. US President Donald Trump held a new lengthy phone call with Vladimir Putin, during which Putin suggested a brief ceasefire for Victory Day celebrations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he instructed his team to clarify details with the White House regarding the ceasefire proposal. According to Euronews, Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Ukraine as ready to work toward a long-term ceasefire and lasting peace in any dignified and effective format. Kallas continued her South Caucasus tour in Baku, holding talks with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev.
What we have seen so far is that Russia does not want to engage in any kind of dialogue. We should not humiliate ourselves by being the 'demandeurs' (saying) 'please, we beg you to talk to us'.
She said strengthening connectivity between the EU, South Caucasus, and Central Asia is in their shared strategic interest and the EU is open to a more structured partnership with Azerbaijan. She said Azerbaijan is a valued and reliable energy partner for the EU. She called the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process a historic opportunity and said it's important to sustain momentum.
She said the EU has tools to support the peace process, including confidence-building measures and demining, where the EU is the biggest donor. According to Euronews, political analyst Fuad Karimli described Kallas's visit as reflecting Azerbaijan's strategic importance to the EU as a reliable partner in trade routes, especially given instability in traditional corridors and its role in the Middle Corridor. On the US-Iran conflict, Trump said US forces have attacked over 7,000 targets in Iran since the war broke out on February 28.
We should put them in a position where they (the Russians) actually go from pretending to negotiate to actually negotiate.
Trump said many countries have told him they are on their way to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, but did not name them. He said some countries are very enthusiastic about helping, while others are not, including some that the US has helped for many years. He said he is critical of giving so much support to other countries because they are not there for the US when needed.
EU foreign ministers decided they do not want to actively enter the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. Kallas said 'This is not Europe's war. ' She said the EU is working with partners to achieve a diplomatic solution to the war.
Russia is gearing up its military for a long-term confrontation with the West. Whether Putin dares to test NATO at some point depends entirely on us. Deterrence works if it is credible. Showing weakness only invites aggression.
Kallas urged all involved to respect the ceasefire between Iran and the US and cease military operations, including attacks in Lebanon. She urged all involved to ensure the right to free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
There can be no return to 'business as usual' with Russia, even after Moscow ends this war in Ukraine.
Our proposal is a long-term ceasefire, reliable and guaranteed security for people, and a lasting peace.
Ukraine is ready to work toward this in any dignified and effective format.
When we see these calls between President Trump and President Putin, there are always a lot of questions unanswered, considering that Russia is openly praising the heroic battle that Iran is (waging) against America.
Does it mean that there is actually also more pressure on Russia because they are helping Iran to fight a war against them? We would like to see that pressure, and we did not see that in that call.
Strengthening connectivity between the EU, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, is in our shared strategic interest and we are open to discuss a more structured partnership with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is a valued and reliable energy partner for the European Union.
There is clear scope to deepen our cooperation.
The EU has a range of tools to support this, from supporting confidence-building measures to demining where we're already the biggest donor.
The EU High Representative's visit is reflective of the strategic importance of Azerbaijan to the EU as the region stands as a reliable partner in trade routes, particularly given instability in traditional corridors, and its central role in the Middle Corridor.
This is not Europe's war. We have not started this war.
We are working with our partners to achieve a diplomatic solution to this war.
The US easing of sanctions on oil, against Russia, is a dangerous precedent, because right now we need to ensure that they (Russia) have less money to wage war, not more.
What I think is important for everyone to understand is that the US has been very clear that they want to split Europe. They do not like the European Union.
It is a very complicated relationship we have.
If you read the national security strategy and the national defense strategy, I don't think you should have any illusions.