Russia's strategy of seeking a bilateral deal with Washington to force Ukraine into submission is a strategic error, according to the EU's top diplomat. In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said Moscow has misread the situation since last year's Anchorage summit by assuming that a US-Russia agreement could deliver what the Kremlin wants.
“The Russians want to discuss and negotiate with the US, so that the US would deliver what they want. But we have our own requests to Russia,” Kallas said. “The message is that you need to talk to the Europeans.”
Her remarks come amid growing transatlantic friction over how to handle the war in Ukraine. Washington has pursued direct channels with Moscow, including a recent deal announced by President Donald Trump under which Russia would supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets. Kallas dismissed the arrangement as a clear concession to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The question is: what has he given in return? What we see is that he’s actually increasing the attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The ceasefire that was also announced is not really working on the Russian side,” she said.
Ukraine's response and the energy dimension
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Kyiv would resume strikes on Russian refineries despite US pressure, including interruptions to intelligence sharing and a weakened Starlink signal during heavy Russian attacks. For Kallas, the core issue is simple: if Russia ends its war of aggression, Ukraine's attacks on refineries would stop as well.
“If we look at the big picture, the majority of the financing for this war comes from oil. And that is why Ukraine is also targeting them [the refineries], while Russia is targeting the energy infrastructure inside Ukraine, to cause as much suffering as possible to the Ukrainian people in the upcoming winter,” she explained.
The EU's foreign policy chief reiterated that international pressure should be directed at the aggressor, not the victim. “If we did this together with the US, then the message to Russia would be clear: stop this war, and all your worries when it comes to oil refineries and whatnot will also stop,” she said.
European unity under strain
Kallas acknowledged that public opinion in key EU countries has shifted over four years of war, with elections in France and elsewhere raising questions about sustained support for Ukraine. The prospect of Marine Le Pen becoming French president has fueled speculation about a softening of European resolve.
However, she insisted that Europe must present a united front for its foreign policy to be effective. “This is what the Russians are actually playing at: that the Europeans will get tired and then they will get what they want. And what I want to stress is that their appetite will then grow,” Kallas warned.
Her comments echo concerns raised by other European leaders. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called Trump's diesel deal very risky and a legitimisation of Moscow. Meanwhile, recent Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities have underscored the ongoing threat to civilian life.
As the EU navigates these challenges, Kallas stressed that the bloc's credibility depends on staying the course. “We have our own requests to Russia,” she said, adding that the Kremlin's attempt to split Europe from the US would ultimately backfire.
