The EU’s Callas pushed back on Trump, saying Europe would stand behind the US on aid to Ukraine.

by Andrew Gray and Lily Baier (OTC:

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday pushed back against Donald Trump for saying that Europe has withheld U.S. aid to Ukraine and insisted the bloc must have a seat at the table when it comes to peace talks. .

Trump said Washington contributed more to Ukraine than Europe, while Callas said Europe contributed the most.

“On my account, we have given more than 134 billion euros to Ukraine. This makes us the largest donor globally,” Callas told Reuters in an interview when asked about the US president’s comments on Tuesday that Europe should pay more.

Russia in 2010 Callas said it was important to include Europe in any talks to end the war sparked by its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Some European officials are concerned that Trump may try to strike a direct deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Any negotiation or agreement between Russia and Ukraine will also affect Europe. So ‘nothing without Europe’ is not the main thing here either,” she said.

Callas expressed some hope that the EU will find a deal to extend sanctions against Russia before they expire at the end of the month.

Hungary has so far refused to support renewal, saying the EU must first consult with the Trump administration on Russia’s future.

“I see no reason to weaken or release the sanctions now,” Callas said.

“The reason I am optimistic is that we have always reached unity in the end and we have maintained unity until now, so I am sure that we will achieve it this time as well,” she said of the previous discussion about sanctions.

She said EU officials were looking into what to do with Russian assets frozen in the bloc. The alliance is currently using profits from its assets to help Ukraine, but has not used the assets itself.