Russia has miscalculated by trying to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine directly with the United States while sidelining Europe, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has told Euronews, warning that Moscow will not achieve its objectives by pressuring Kyiv to surrender.
In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said Russia had pursued the wrong strategy since the Anchorage summit last year by attempting to secure an agreement with Washington that would force Ukraine to accept Moscow’s demands. She stressed that Europe has its own conditions for Russia and will continue to support Ukraine.
“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 underline Europe’s insistence that it must have a role in any diplomatic effort to end the war, particularly as negotiations involving Washington and Moscow could have far-reaching consequences for Ukraine’s security and the future of European stability.
Kallas also questioned the benefits Russia would receive under a diesel supply arrangement announced by US President Donald Trump, which would see Russia supply 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the United States and global markets. She described the deal as a clear gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin and challenged Moscow to demonstrate what it had offered in return.
“The question is: what has he given in return?” she said, pointing to continued Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Kallas also argued that an announced energy ceasefire was not being properly observed by Russia.
The dispute over energy supplies comes as Ukraine continues to target Russian oil infrastructure, which helps generate revenue for Moscow’s war effort. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Kyiv would resume attacks on Russian refineries despite pressure from Washington. According to the report, that pressure included interruptions to intelligence sharing and a reduction in Starlink signal quality during heavy Russian attacks.
Kallas argued that the conflict over energy infrastructure could not be separated from the wider war. She said Russia needed to end its military aggression if both sides were to stop attacking energy facilities.
A significant share of Russia’s ability to finance its war comes from oil revenues, Kallas said, explaining why Ukrainian forces have targeted refineries. At the same time, Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure threaten the country’s ability to maintain essential services and prepare for another winter under wartime conditions.
“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 said.
For Kallas, the priority should be to increase pressure on Russia to end the invasion rather than pressure Ukraine to give up territory or accept an unfavourable settlement. She argued that a coordinated approach between Europe and the United States would send Moscow a clearer message and could help bring attacks on energy infrastructure to an end.
“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.
Her comments also come amid questions about whether political changes in Europe could weaken support for Ukraine. Elections in several major EU countries could reshape the continent’s approach to the war, while the prospect of Marine Le Pen becoming French president has raised concerns about the future direction of French policy towards Kyiv.
Kallas acknowledged that public attitudes towards the conflict had changed over four years of war. However, she warned that divisions among European governments could work in Moscow’s favour by weakening the collective pressure needed to influence Russia’s decisions.
“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 said.
Her warning reflects a central concern for European leaders: that a prolonged conflict and shifting domestic politics could erode the unity underpinning support for Ukraine. Kallas maintains that allowing Russia to achieve its objectives through sustained military pressure would risk encouraging further demands, making continued European cooperation essential to any lasting settlement.
