Kaja Kallas: Russia to still pursue efforts to divide US and EU

Russia will increasingly seek to drive a wedge between the United States and the European Union (EU), said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on Feb. 18, following a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“Let’s not walk into their traps,” she said.

Kallas added that the U.S. and the EU have the potential to achieve a lasting and fair peace in the war Russia is waging against Ukraine.

For decades, the U.S. and EU have shared common interests to uphold democratic principles and to cooperate and transatlantic issues. 

The conversation also involved the foreign affairs ministers of Italy, France, Germany, and Britain. The call took place immediately after talks between a U.S. delegation, led by Rubio, and Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia.

Following the four-hour Russia-U.S. discussions, the U.S. State Department stated that both countries agreed to “remove irritants” in their relations and continue preparations for negotiations on the war in Ukraine. They also agreed to create a special high-level group for this process.

However, Washington and Moscow agreed to reestablish embassies and explore economic cooperation, indicating that the U.S. might ease or lift certain sanctions on Russia over war mongering in Ukraine.

Earlier, Kaja Kallas said that any peace agreement reached without the involvement of Ukraine and Europe would have little chance of success.