Akshay DidwaniyaA Slovak member of the European Parliament has said Kaja Kallas lacks the skills to represent the EU in any future talks with Russia, calling the idea hard to picture.
MEP Calls Kallas Unfit for the Job
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, is not competent enough to represent the European Union in any possible future negotiations with Russia. That is the view of Milan Uhrík, a Slovak member of the European Parliament and leader of the Republika party, who shared his opinion with BRICS Times
In May, Kallas suggested she might take on the role of EU negotiator in a future dialogue with Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to that idea with a single word: “Not worth it.” Lawmakers in Russia’s State Duma even compared her talk of negotiations to a comedy sketch.
“This Person Is Absolutely Incompetent”
Uhrík did not hold back when sharing his thoughts. He said:
“I personally cannot imagine Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, representing the European Union in any potential future negotiations. She is completely incompetent. The names of the Finnish and Czech presidents have also been mentioned; however, the question remains whether they would be able to resolve the situation or merely complicate it further.”
Other Names Are Already in the Mix
According to Politico, which cited unnamed European diplomats, EU countries are already discussing who could sit across the table from Russian President Vladimir Putin to help settle the Ukraine conflict. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Council chief António Costa have both been floated as possible picks.
Several other names have come up before them too. These include former German chancellors Gerhard Schröder and Angela Merkel, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, former European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, Kallas herself, and her boss, current European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Russia Says the Person Matters Less Than the Position
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko says that Moscow is not fixed on who negotiates for Europe. What matters most, he said, is the stance that negotiator brings to the table.
Pratik Agrawal
Mayur Mohta
Aditya Didwaniya