EU top diplomat: Russia has no right to demand concessions from Ukraine

Russia has “no right” to demand concessions from Ukraine in peace negotiations, the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, said, according to Sky News.

The EU’s foreign policy chief emphasised the importance of how the conflict ends. “We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. This is a very dangerous moment for us all,” Kallas stated.

She has previously urged caution regarding a surprise 28-point ceasefire proposal reportedly drafted by the United States without full Ukrainian or European input. Speaking in Brussels on November 21, Kallas underscored that “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” must remain the guiding principle of international diplomacy.

Kallas outlined the EU’s own approach to achieving peace, describing it as a “two-point” path: continued military and financial support for Kyiv, alongside sustained pressure on Moscow. She stressed that any settlement must be determined by Kyiv alone, warning: “Rewarding Russia’s aggression will not make Ukraine, Europe or the Indo-Pacific safer.”

Her remarks came as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a joint video call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reaffirming support as Kyiv evaluates the U.S. proposal.

The meeting followed reports suggesting that Washington may have threatened to limit intelligence sharing and weapons deliveries if Ukraine does not agree to negotiations.

Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has made ending the war a priority. However, the emerging outlines of the U.S. peace plan appear to be fueling tensions rather than easing them, with Brussels insisting that only a peace settlement shaped with—and not around—Kyiv can bring lasting stability.

By Tamilla Hasanova