Foreign Affairs Council : Press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival

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Good morning!

This week is really an intense diplomatic week. We have many discussions today. First on Ukraine, in terms of financing, it is a make-or-break week. These topics that we have, the decisions that we have to make to support Ukraine, I think are very important.

We have made also decisions, or will make decisions today regarding the shadow fleet vessels. We have 40 additional vessels plus enablers, and this is all for depriving Russia of the means to fund this war. We also reached the target of the 2 million rounds initiative. This is necessary for Ukraine to defend itself.

And then we have discussions, first for the breakfast, we have Armenia. Of course, Armenia have elections coming, and what can we do to help them? They have asked similar help to fight the malign influence, like we granted to Moldova.

Over lunch, we have a discussion on China. This is also getting more intense when it comes to economic security and these are worries that we have there.

Then we have the Middle East. And for the Middle East, we have prepared a document also on how to interact with Syria. Considering the worries that we have there, what more can we do to help them on the right track. This is in our interest that it does not go the wrong way. So, how can we help in terms of institution building, inclusivity, everything.

We also discuss Lebanon and then we have a Lebanon Association Council afterwards as well. They are also in a very difficult moment. We are helping the Lebanese Armed Forces, but of course they have to make the steps to disarm Hezbollah, and it is increasingly difficult. We expect intense discussions there.

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Q&A

Q. In regard to NATO, can they provide security guarantees that are sustainable for all?

What we have to keep in mind is why countries want to be in NATO is because they do not want Russia to invade them, to attack them. And that is why Sweden and Finland joined NATO, that is why the Baltic states joined NATO, to have this defence umbrella. Now, if this is not in question, or this is out of the question, then we need to see what are the security guarantees that are tangible. They cannot be papers or promises. They have to be real troops, real capabilities, so that Ukraine is able to defend itself. We have to understand that Donbas is not Putin's end game. If he gets Donbas, then the fortress is down, and then they definitely move on with taking the whole of Ukraine. And if Ukraine goes, then other regions are also in danger. We know this from history and we should learn from history.

Q: What are your plans to support Ukraine in 2026, military aid and diplomatically?

Like I said, this is really a very important week for financing questions. We have different options on the table, and they will be discussed in the leaders' meeting on Thursday. What President Costa said: "we will not leave the meeting before we get a result", before we get the decision on the funding for Ukraine. The most credible option is the reparations loan, and this is what we are working on. We are not there yet, and it is increasingly difficult, but we are doing the work. We still have some days.

Q: You said, Ukraine is any closer to peace, then it was for years, in these four years, like American said, that Ukraine is now closest ever before.

Of course, the peace efforts that have been made are hugely welcomed, but it is also clear that we want peace that lasts, a ceasefire that lasts, and also sustainable peace. And for sustainable peace, there should not be any appeasement of the aggressor. Again, if aggression is rewarded, we will see more of it. We have seen this in history, and that is extremely important. And there has to be also accountability for the crimes committed.

Q: Belarus released more than 100 prisoners. in exchange, United States took off sanctions. Is there any sign that United States, for example, asks for European Union to do the same on Belarus?

These are European Union decisions, and we are taking into account our strategic objectives, which is really to put the pressure on the oppressor and the enablers, and that is why we have the sanctions in place. This is our policy.

Q: What do you think of the statement made over the weekend, basically Bulgaria and Malta, supporting Belgium's calls for alternatives of reparation loans, Czechia also came out and supported Belgium. Is the reparation loan method losing the momentum in the European Union?

It is difficult, of course. As we know, there are different pressure from different sides, but we also need to be very clear eyed. The other options are not really flying. We have tried that before. If you think about - even, I think it was two years ago - when I proposed the euro bonds; it did not fly, because you need everybody on board. The reparations loan we can do with the QMV, the reparations loan is based on the Russian frozen assets. That means it does not come from our taxpayers' money, which is also important, and it also sends a clear signal that if you do all this damage to another country, you have to pay for the reparations.

Follow-up: [Inaudible]

Of course, we have the QMV decision, but without Belgium, I think it would not be very easy, because they have the majority of the assets, and I think it is important that they are on board, whatever we do. What I want to say is that, of course, some countries in Europe are more used to the threats presented by Russia than others, and I want to tell you that these are only threats. If we keep united, we are much stronger, and these are just threats that Russia is posing even what we have seen before. So, I really want all of us to have clear heads.

Q: [Inaudible] Before the war the Americans are giving security guarantees to Russia, especially that the talks now is about stopping NATO from extending?

We have to be really clear eyed. We have one aggressor and one victim, and the one that needs security guarantees is Ukraine, not Russia. Like I have said, in the last 100 years, Russia has attacked at least 19 countries, some as many as three or four times. None of those countries has ever attacked Russia, so they do not need any security guarantees. The security guarantees are needed for everybody else.

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