Russian President Vladimir Putin uses only the language of force, but the European Union has the resources and capacity to spend more and produce more than Russia, said Kaia Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, BTA reports.
According to her, the EU must move from long-term alternatives to clearly defined actions against Russia in order to protect its value and stability.
Realistic approach to Russia
Kalas explained that she has been repeatedly criticized for her “hawkish“ views on Russia, but defined herself as “realistic“ about the threats coming from the Kremlin. In her speech, she stressed that the EU's approach to Russia should be based more on facts than on diplomatic illusions.
Problems with defense spending and frozen Russian assets
In addition, Kallas agreed with US President Donald Trump's criticism of the EU's insufficient spending on defense. She also suggested exploring the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. These funds, she said, could be used to provide financial assistance to the country while sanctions against Russia continue to be implemented.