Foreign Affairs Council: Press remarks by Excessive Consultant Kaja Kallas upon arrival

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Good to be in Luxembourg.

Today we’ve got a Foreign Affairs Council, after which afterwards we’ve got a giant ministerial developing with our companions from Central Asia and South Caucasus. 

But first on the FAC. Of course, we first speak about Ukraine.  

We see President Trump’s efforts to carry peace to Ukraine. Of course, all these efforts are welcomed, however we don’t see Russia actually wanting peace. Russia solely understands energy and solely negotiates when it’s actually put to barter. So, proper now, we don’t see it but.  

That is why we’re discussing what extra we are able to do. We expect this week, additionally, to undertake a 19^th package deal of sanctions. Unfortunately, not at present, however we’ve got additionally a leaders’ assembly developing on Thursday.  

And then, what extra we are able to do, additionally concerning the shadow fleet. We are discussing with the Member States the way to higher coordinate our actions concerning the shadow fleet. 

Then, in fact, the Middle East.  

The ceasefire held its first stress take a look at. I believe it is a good first part. But in fact, we have to work on what extra we are able to do to have a sustainable peace within the Middle East. There is so much to do with a purpose to get the humanitarian assist in, and likewise that the ceasefire would final. So, we are going to focus on with the Member States what we are able to do on this regard. 

And then we’ve got the Indo-Pacific.  

As , we’ve got in November the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum developing. We are actually reaching out to our Indo-Pacific companions, particularly contemplating how China has now weaponised the availability chains. And this weaponising of the availability chains is a danger to world commerce. 

So, we are going to focus on this additionally at present. 

 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-278726 

 

Q&A. 

Q. Don’t you suppose it’s form of a slap within the face that Trump goes to fulfill in Budapest with Putin, however there isn’t a Europeans there? 

Well, my want would have been that it’s President Zelenskyy who meets Putin, as a result of it’s really them who must agree on this. As I mentioned, they’re assembly, however let’s examine what’s popping out of that assembly. I believe it can be crucial that President Zelensky additionally meets Putin, and so they can focus on really what they’ll do. If America has lots of energy to strain Russia to return to the negotiation desk, in the event that they use that, then, in fact, that is good if Russia stops this warfare. 

Q. Do you suppose it is proper {that a} wished warfare felony involves the EU? Secondly, how’s your working relationship with President von der Leyen and the way do you suppose that’ll be affected in the event you rent Martin Selmayr as an advisor? 

Regarding Budapest, no, it’s not good. To see that actually an individual, with an arrest warrant put by the ICC, is coming to a European nation. And once more, the query is whether or not there’s any end result out of this. This is what we have to see, how these items are getting into Budapest, as we’ve got been very agency that Russia solely negotiates when they’re placed on strain. So, we additionally hope that President Trump does that. 

Q. Vladimir Putin would be the first one who’s been indicted by the ICC to return to the European Union. There’s additionally been Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. You put sanctions on the desk in opposition to members of the Israeli authorities and broader commerce measures. Should these keep in place, will you decide to advancing them, or do you suppose it is the proper time to shelve them, given the developments of the final week? 

Of course, the state of affairs has modified, contemplating the developments final week, however we are going to focus on at present with the Foreign Ministers. These measures are on the desk, and the query is, what additionally Foreign Ministers determine to do with them. So, on the press convention I’ll have extra to let you know. 

Q. Frozen belongings from Russia. What is required now in order that they are going to be used? And do you count on a breakthrough this week? 

Yes, we’ve got proposed the Reparations Loan to actually transfer on with this. We have made nice progress, however we’re not there but. Hopefully by the tip of this week, when additionally leaders meet, we are able to report extra again to it in order that we are able to transfer on.  

What’s wanted to get there?  

Usually it’s that every one the Member States must agree, and that is the primary subject. So, for Member States, what are the problems for them to dam or to not agree but. You must ask them. Basically, we’re engaged on the solidarity measures for Belgium, for instance, and these steps. 

Q. There’s a brand new Financial Times story saying that Trump urged Zelensky on Friday to just accept Putin’s phrases or be destroyed by Russia, and that Donald Trump additionally spoke of a particular army operation, mainly Putin’s rhetoric. What do you say to that? 

Ukrainians are very resilient. They are combating for his or her freedom, their independence, their nation, so they can not simply give up. And I believe for the worldwide order it’s also damaging if the aggressor will get what it desires, as a result of that offers a sign to all of the aggressors on this planet you could simply go and take what you would like for. 

Q. What do you suppose the EU can really ship at present and on the summit by way of sanctions? What do you suppose can really be delivered within the coming days? 

Like I mentioned, I hope to achieve an settlement on the 19^th sanctions package deal this week when the leaders meet. We are also doing the coordination concerning the shadow fleet, as a result of we see that there’s a lot of revenues coming from the shadow fleet, and we’ve got actually made efforts concerning curbing the revenues from the shadow fleet. We have made lots of progress if we see how it’s actually engaged on Russia. So, we should always give it some thought extra, to be extra artistic on this regard, as a result of they’re additionally artistic in bypassing these issues. So, we have to suppose on a regular basis, what extra we are able to do. 

Q. Is that strategic silence in your relationship with President von der Leyen and the potential for the return of Martin Selmayr? 

My relationship with President von der Leyen is excellent. So, if you’re referring to the competitors that we’ve got ongoing for the Deputy Secretary-General for the European External Action Service, then my intention has at all times been that Europe is a geopolitical energy. In order to be a geopolitical energy, we’re solely there if we’re united by Member States. So, this Deputy Secretary-General is to coordinate the Member States and COREPER to return to unified positions. We want a powerful particular person. This is ongoing and it’s to make Europe stronger, which is to the advantage of us all.