EU top diplomat rebuffs Trump’s claim that bloc was created to "screw" US

Chief European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas has rejected US President Donald Trump's assertion that the European Union was established to take advantage of the United States.

Kallas emphasised that the EU's primary purpose is to uphold peace, Caliber.Az reports per US media.

"Europe is a peace project. You know, it was created so that we wouldn't have wars between the members of the European Union, and we haven't had any. And, of course, also to do things together, cooperate more," she stated.

Kallas, who is from Estonia, highlighted the role the US had played in encouraging her country to join the EU two decades ago.

"You know, coming from a country that joined the European Union 20 years ago. Then, we were actually, you know, pushed by the Americans, you know, [saying] you will not get into NATO, but Europe, the European Union, is something that you should join because it's, it's a good project also for transatlantic relations. So I was quite surprised to hear a comment like that," she added.

The EU official also underscored Europe's broad support for Ukraine and noted her ongoing coordination with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"The fight that Ukraine is having is not only about Ukraine sovereignty, but it's much, much broader. It's about freedom of the free world, really. It is about the world where international law applies and the world where might does not make right," she said.

Kallas argued that economic measures imposed by the US and Europe could significantly weaken Russia's military operations.

"We shouldn't overestimate the power of Russia and underestimate our own power," she stated. "We know that their economy is not doing well. I mean, their inflation is over 20%, their National Fund is almost completely depleted."

"They don't have the same revenues from gas and oil that they used to to fund the war machine. So actually, if we concentrate our efforts, we can put the pressure so that they would stop the war," she added.

Her remarks followed Trump's recent criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a White House meeting on February 28. Trump argued that Ukraine was in a weak position and should seek a negotiated settlement rather than depending on continuous aid from the US.

By Aghakazim Guliyev