EU pushes US to step up pressure on Russia, Kallas says

EU officials are trying to convince their US partners that ending the war in Ukraine requires increasing pressure on Russia, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on October 16 at a summit of EU leaders. Kallas said the goal is not just to end the current war but to ensure Russia does not start new ones. She noted that EU foreign ministers prepared a list of security demands to present to Russia, rather than conceding everything without obtaining Russian concessions, while acknowledging that discussions with American allies are very difficult. Kallas also addressed Ukraine's reliance on US Starlink services, which Europe cannot replace in the short term, and discussed using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. She stated that assets should not be returned until Russia pays reparations, and mechanisms are needed to share risks among member states to help Ukraine now.