Most countries around the world, including Russia, have signed a 1993 international convention banning the use, production, development or stockpiling of chemical weapons. Russia is one of 65 countries to have not only signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, but also ratified it.
Kallas’ comments add to a growing sense of alarm in EU capitals that Russia is escalating its campaign to subdue Ukraine, unleashing larger and larger nightly attacks by missiles.
The worsening onslaught, which coincides with an ongoing summer offensive by Russia, prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to announce Monday that he would support a bill penalizing Moscow via powerful tariffs on Russian exports.
However, the fact that Trump has said he would only approve the secondary sanctions against Russia after 50 days if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t stop his assault of his own accord has led to disappointment in Europe and Ukraine.
Trump’s announcement that he will allow NATO to buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine is also sitting awkwardly with European officials. Asked about the move, Kallas said she welcomed the possibility of delivering more weapons to Ukraine, but added that Europe would “like to see the U.S. share the burden.”
Trump, however, has said the U.S. would not keep financing Ukraine’s defense. “We’re not buying it, but we will manufacture it, and they’re going to be paying for it,” Trump said, referencing “very rich” European allies.
Kallas said: “If we pay for these weapons, it’s our support, it’s European support.”
