Warns Ukraine's War Negotiations, EU's Head Of Foreign Policy: Cannot Rely On Russia

Head of European Union Foreign Policy Head Kaja Kallas. (Twitter/@kajajalallas)

JAKARTA - EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday interactions between the United States and Russia showed Moscow had not let go of its territorial destination in Ukraine, and that calming it would send a dangerous signal.

Last week, US President Donald Trump shocked Europe by arranging bilateral peace negotiations with Russia without including Ukraine, which raised concerns, including for EU allies, his approach to ending the conflict would benefit Russia.

"We understand from the interactions they (Russia) have with America (that) they have not let go of their goals," Kallas said on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 country in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"They want to get the best and more than that," he said.

Kallas further warned, "if we leave everything to the aggressor, it sends a signal to all the aggressors in the world that you can do this".

Kallas said some countries were too focused on mediation, whereas they should have put political and economic pressure on Russia to end the war.

President Trump on Wednesday called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" and urged him to accept a peace agreement with Russia or risk losing his country.

"The thing that is a bit neglected at this time is that Russia does not want peace," Kallas said.

He added it was too early to talk about sending peacekeepers to Ukraine - something European leaders in Paris, France discussed this week - before the ceasefire.