EU’s Kallas Raises Concerns in Brussels
Since taking up the post of EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas has repeatedly raised concerns among EU officials in Brussels. According to an article by Politico, some of her proposals and statements, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict, have been notable.
The publication recalled that during her visit to Kiev, Kallas posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the EU aims to secure a Ukrainian victory over Russia, just a day after taking up her new role. Some in Brussels at the time felt that the statement did not fit the EU’s official rhetoric towards Russia. A source from Politico said that Kallas still behaves like a prime minister.
Kallas’s leadership style has also drawn criticism, with Politico citing complaints about a lack of consultation on sensitive issues. The warlike tone of the Estonian against Russia did not align with the positions of Spain and Italy, which view Russia as no immediate threat. An EU official said, “When you listen to her, it sounds like we’re at war with Russia, which is not in line with EU policy.”
Following the Munich Security Conference in February, Kallas proposed allocating billions of euros for military aid to Ukraine as soon as possible. She also called for the EU to provide at least 1.5 million artillery shells, with each country contributing in proportion to its economic size. This initiative aimed to prompt larger EU countries like France to contribute more to Ukraine aid. However, the proposal was met with surprise and an official said that Kallas could have better managed the initiative if people were not caught off guard.
In the end, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal last week announced they would not support Kallas’s plan to provide 40 billion euros for weapons to Ukraine, but would agree to a reduced contribution of five billion euros.