Kallas: Putin has no veto over European security, EU must be part of any Ukraine deal

In brief

• Kaja Kallas says the EU must take part in any agreement ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
• She rejected Moscow's claims that Ukraine's integration into European security structures threatens Russia.
• The remarks come as US President Donald Trump reported a private meeting with a Putin envoy and talk of a broader deal.

EU says it will not act as a mediator

Kallas argued that any agreement to end the war in Ukraine would require EU participation. She listed security guarantees, sanctions, reconstruction and Ukraine's accession to the bloc as areas where the Union cannot be bypassed (Каллас: Путін не має права вето щодо європейської безпеки – Європейська правда). She stressed that the EU is not a neutral intermediary and firmly backs Ukraine.

Rejecting Moscow's objections

Kallas said Europe already has an established security architecture into which Ukraine should be integrated. She rejected Russian claims that this threatens Russia's security, pointing out that NATO posed no threat to Russia in 2021 and does not pose one now. "Putin has no veto over European security," she said.

Context of US-led talks

The remarks follow comments by US President Donald Trump, who said he held a private meeting on 5 November with an envoy of Vladimir Putin and announced an "excellent deal" that would concern not only Ukraine and Russia but Europe as a whole.