On December 1, Mr. Costa posted on X a picture of himself, Ms. Kallas, and EU Enlargement Director Marta Kos visiting the capital Kiev by train, with the caption: “From the first day of the war, the EU stood by Ukraine. From the first day of our office, we reaffirmed our unwavering support for the Ukrainian people.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Kallas wrote on X: “On my first visit since taking office, my message is clear: the European Union wants Ukraine to win this fight. We will do everything to achieve that.”
Ms. Kaja Kallas (left), Mr. Antonio Costa (center) and Ms. Marta Kos (right) visit Kiev, Ukraine on December 1. Photo: X/Antonio Costa
Both Ms Kallas and Mr Costa have been strong supporters of Ukraine since the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted in February 2022. However, neither side has been able to make concrete commitments on further aid.
The EU says its institutions and member states have provided about $133 billion in aid to Ukraine since the conflict began, but future support remains uncertain, especially if President-elect Donald Trump cuts aid from the United States.
Mr Trump has criticised the scale of aid to Kiev and vowed to seek a quick end to the conflict, although he has not specified how.
On the battlefield, Russia is taking village by village and is closing in on its goal of controlling the entire Donbas industrial region. The pressure on Kiev is growing as Russian airstrikes target Ukraine’s energy grid as winter approaches.
In a recent speech, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also acknowledged Ukraine's difficult situation in the conflict with Russia, due to severe force shortages and facing uncertainty from US and Western aid.
Contrary to his previous harsh statements, he has made a move to “de-escalate” the war with Russia. Specifically, he said that Ukraine could temporarily accept the current situation in the territories controlled by Russia, to end the hot phase of the 33-month war, then restore the occupied territories through diplomatic channels.
As prime minister of Estonia, a country that borders Russia, Ms Kallas emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Russia. This year, Moscow put her on a wanted list for destroying Soviet-era monuments.
Mr Costa, a former Portuguese prime minister, is tasked with coordinating the work of EU national leaders and chairing their summits as president of the European Council. At a ceremony in Brussels on November 29, he said everyone wanted peace after more than 1,000 days of conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)
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