“The sequencing of the steps is important,” she said in a statement. “First, an unconditional ceasefire with a strong monitoring system and ironclad security guarantees.” That sentiment was echoed in the EU leaders’ statement on Tuesday.
Kallas further promised to work on a new package of sanctions while pledging to continue to support Kyiv financially and press ahead with its bid to join the EU.
Such demands show Europe is growing more comfortable in putting its positions forward on the resolution of Russia’s war against Ukraine, with views that have recently been more pro-Kyiv than Washington’s under Trump.
Earlier this week, the leaders of Germany, France, Poland, Finland and the U.K., as well as the head of the European Commission, warned that any peace deal needed to respect Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” — code for not forcing Kyiv to give up land — as well as security guarantees.
Though Kyiv has not publicly entertained the prospect of conceding land to Russia, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said a final peace deal would most likely include “land swaps” — a point echoed by Trump’s chief negotiator Steve Witkoff and, later on Monday, Trump himself.
Nonetheless, Trump, while indicating he envisages Ukraine ceding some territory to Russia, said he hopes some land will go the other way. “Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine,” he said. “They’ve occupied some very prime territory. We’re going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine.”