Moscow accuses EU foreign policy chief of "zero level of professionalism"

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has sharply criticised EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, calling her work “a disgrace to European politics” after Kallas said she would be prepared to respond to a potential phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin or Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“I don't want to resort to personal assessments, but truly, this is a group of hellish nonprofessionals and people who have lost their conscience,” Zakharova said.

“What the European Commission and Brussels are doing in the form of all these commissioners and high representatives has already become an absolute disgrace to European politics,” she added.

Zakharova also claimed that criticism of Kallas’ professional record was widespread within Europe itself.

“Kallas’ zero level of professionalism is being discussed in Europe itself,” she said.

Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a vice president of the European Commission, has recently reiterated the bloc’s support for Ukraine and called for increased pressure on Russia. In a September 15 address to the European Parliament, she said the EU would not reduce its support for Ukraine and argued that Russia’s actions required Europe to impose greater costs on Moscow.

By Tamilla Hasanova