Kaja Kallas Says the US Cannot Negotiate the Lifting of EU Sanctions on Russia
In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, Kaja Kallas reaffirmed the European Union’s role as an independent actor in international affairs and rejected the idea that Washington could negotiate on the bloc’s behalf over the removal of sanctions on Russia. Her position underscores that decisions affecting EU sanctions policy belong to the EU itself, even as the United States remains deeply involved in diplomatic efforts surrounding the war in Ukraine.
Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, is now the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and serves as its top diplomat. The interview examines the continuing war in Ukraine and the EU’s place in discussions about its future, while also addressing the broader geopolitical issues shaping Europe’s foreign policy. The programme considers the situation in the Middle East and the competing international pressures facing the bloc.
The conversation also looks at whether Donald Trump’s foreign policy could change after the US midterm elections. That question is presented alongside the dispute over Russia sanctions, making the interview relevant to the future relationship between Washington and Brussels as well as to the EU’s approach to the war. Kallas’s comments position the bloc as a major participant in global diplomacy rather than a party whose policies can be negotiated by another government. The programme was prepared by Oihana Almandoz, Jonathan Walsh, Perrine Desplats and Isabelle Romero.
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