Kallas: EU unwilling to strike energy deals with Russia

According to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, there is no willingness within the European Union to conclude energy agreements with Russia despite rising prices.

In an interview with Reuters, she said she does not see such a willingness even ‘behind closed doors’. At the same time, she emphasised that if the EU were to negotiate with Russia, it would first need to be clear about what it wants to discuss.

‘If we simply returned to normal relations with Russia, it would only lead to more wars. We have already seen this for ourselves. That is why we must remain very cautious and must not give in to Russia regarding what it wants to achieve, because its ambitions would only grow as a result.’

Kallas also said the EU is an ally of the US, even though she ‘doesn’t quite understand’ its actions in recent times. ‘I think that after this past year it is quite clear that the word we must keep in mind is “unpredictability”. We are therefore calmer now because we expect unpredictable things to happen constantly; we take it as it comes, keep a cool head and remain focused,’ she added.

She also responded to US President Donald Trump’s call for allies to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure shipping during a war with Iran. ‘No one is prepared to put their people in danger in the Strait of Hormuz. We must find diplomatic ways to keep it open to avoid a food, fertiliser and energy crisis,’ she said.

(Reuters, Lud)