Kallas says Europe is struggling to convince U.S. to pressure Russia rather than offer concessions

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Friday that Europe was trying to persuade the United States to increase pressure on Russia, arguing that Moscow must be squeezed if the war in Ukraine is to end.

"We are trying to convince our American partners that if we want to end this war, then we have to squeeze the aggressor," Kallas said at the EU summit in Brussels. She added that the goal was not only to end the current war but also to prevent Russia from starting future conflicts.

Kallas warned against giving Moscow what it wants without securing concessions in return. "We should not give all the things that they are interested in without having some kind of concessions also from the Russian side," she said.

She acknowledged that persuading Washington had become difficult. "With our American allies, it's very difficult at the moment," Kallas said.

Her remarks came amid growing European concern over U.S. pressure on Ukraine, the easing of restrictions on Russian diesel and uncertainty over Washington's future military and intelligence support for Kyiv.

European leaders at the summit reiterated support for Ukraine and argued that sanctions and other pressure on Russia should be maintained until Moscow takes steps toward ending the war.