EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas is spending her few days of vacation this summer in Estonia, where her son and parents live. The 49-year-old lawyer was head of government in her home country for three years (2021-2024) before moving to Brussels. In an interview with WELT - the conversation was conducted in writing - the EU foreign policy chief, who is on Russia's wanted list, explains how Kiev can be given even better support. Ukraine is facing its fifth winter of war in its defensive battle against Moscow.
WORLD: Ms. Kallas, how do you assess the situation in Ukraine?
Kaja Kallas: July was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since Putin's invasion began. Moscow's army is not winning on the battlefield and is therefore increasingly directing missiles against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. This is systematic terror. Russia wants to make Ukrainian cities uninhabitable. And in the Black Sea, Russia attacks ships loaded with grain, endangering the global food supply. We must not allow Putin to succeed.
WORLD: But Ukraine is defending itself and attacking areas in Russia.
Kallas: Yes, Ukraine managed to disrupt Russian logistics with drone attacks. These attacks have created a serious fuel crisis in Russian-occupied Crimea and hit refineries deep in the country's interior. This means that the Russian population is also feeling the consequences of this war more acutely.
WORLD: At the end of July, the EU decided on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia to punish Moscow for the war of aggression that has been ongoing since February 2022. Will there be further sanctions?
Kallas: To date, Russia has paid dearly for the EU sanctions; they have already cost Russia's war machine over a trillion euros. In the fall I will present the most far-reaching sanctions list since the beginning of the war. If passed, the number of Russian individuals, companies and organizations sanctioned will immediately increase by a third. The pressure must be increased until Russia ends the war. The passage of sanctions legislation against Russia initiated by Graham in the Senate gives hope that Europe and the United States will move closer together on this issue.
WORLD: Russia relies on hybrid warfare, i.e. a mixture of military and non-military means, and also aims to divide and unsettle society in Europe. How do you see that?
Kallas: Europe is faced with an increasing hybrid threat. In most cases, sabotage, espionage and cyberattacks can be traced back to Moscow. The dangerous drone incident at Leipzig Airport could also indicate an attack by a state actor. On the eastern flank, however, the events are clear: Russian missiles and drones recently violated the airspace of Poland and Romania. They tested our resolve and tested our defenses. Such incidents are unacceptable and demonstrate Moscow's growing nefariousness. If we respond too poorly, we will see more incidents like this. The reform plans for the German secret services are important in order to be able to respond better to hybrid threats.
WORLD: Change of subject, Ms. Kallas. When will Iran finally reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf in the west with the Gulf of Oman in the east? The strait is one of the world's most important trade routes for oil, liquid gas and fertilizer.
Kallas: Diplomatic efforts to end the war between the US and Iran are in full swing. But it is uncertain whether the talks will be successful. It's obvious that both sides don't trust each other. The world is paying a heavy price for closing the Strait of Hormuz. Freedom of navigation must remain unhindered and must not be burdened with fees. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz must be a priority, but curbing Iran's nuclear program must also remain on the agenda.
WORLD: Do you have hope that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians can ever be resolved?
Kallas: The only long-term solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians remains the two-state solution, which would allow both sides to live together safely. We are working to keep this prospect alive and our two EU missions on the ground, which have just been extended, are helping to do this. The Gaza peace plan offers an opportunity to move forward, but increasing settler violence and lack of progress in disarming Hamas are undermining progress.
WORLD: A word about your own authority, the European External Action Service (EEAS). There is increasing criticism that the EU's foreign policy control center is not meeting the new challenges in a world that is becoming increasingly uncertain. Is that correct?
Kallas: The world is changing faster and the EU has to move with it. Today's crises require faster decisions, this applies to Ukraine, but also to the Middle East. I share the view of France and Germany that Europe needs a more forceful presence in foreign policy, and I am working to ensure that this happens.
WORLD: What are you planning?
Kallas: One thing is clear: we must reduce the duplication of structures between the EU institutions and better coordinate our instruments for the benefit of Europe's interests. This affects diplomacy, trade, development aid and the EU missions. We also need to make the EU diplomatic service even more effective. I will speak to the foreign ministers about this in September.
