Informal meeting of the members of the European Council: doorstep remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas

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Today we gather here to discuss transatlantic relations and although I think everybody is relieved with the recent announcements, we have also seen that in this one-year period, we are ready for a lot of unpredictability.

We need to still discuss our plans for different scenarios, because one day, one way, the other day again, everything could change.

The word for this year has been unpredictability, and this is what we are living through. Right now, it is also important to focus back on where the problems really lie and this is the war in Ukraine, that is still going on.

We need to focus our efforts on really stopping this war.

We have seen a lot of push for peace and diplomatic efforts for peace, but it has been totally one-sided. We have not seen any concessions from the Russian side. The opposite: they have increased their attacks on civilian infrastructure in a time when in Ukraine, there is very, very hard winters.

Of course, every kind of disagreements that allies have between them, like Europe and America, are just benefiting our adversaries, who are looking aside and enjoying the view.

Hopefully we are investing in our transatlantic relationship, so it would be stronger to stand up for the threats that are actually there.