Ukraine EU and the USA agree on "maximum pressure" on Russia

The USA and the EU have agreed to maintain their tough stance towards Russia with regard to the war in Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

"They agreed that maximum pressure on Moscow must be maintained in order to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," an EU representative said on Tuesday after the first telephone conversation between EU foreign affairs representative Kaja Kallas and the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Shortly afterwards, the EU Commission proposed punitive tariffs on further agricultural products from Russia. The tariffs would "likely have a negative impact on Russian export revenues and thus also on Russia's ability to wage its war of aggression against Ukraine", it said in a statement. The tariffs still have to be approved by the EU member states and the European Parliament.

Commenting on the phone call between Kallas and Rubio, the EU representative said the two chief diplomats had emphasized the importance of "strengthening cooperation between the EU and the US on key global issues, including Russia's war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the challenges posed by China".

More than a week after the new US President Donald Trump took office, the new US administration's stance on Ukraine remains difficult to decipher. During the election campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized the extensive US military aid for Ukraine - but after taking office, he threatened Russia with additional sanctions if the country did not conclude a peace agreement.

SDA