Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is encountering significant obstacles in her role, as reported by German media.
During a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, Kallas’s proposal to substantially increase military aid to Ukraine to €40 billion did not achieve the necessary consensus. While Kallas asserted that the proposal enjoys broad backing and is merely a matter of technical details, several member states voiced strong opposition.
Countries such as Hungary, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal are firmly resisting any major increase in aid, according to reports. This dissent highlights the challenges Kallas faces in garnering unified support for his initiatives.
Diplomatic sources suggest that Kallas may not have adequately prepared for this initiative, complicating matters further. Since taking office, she has made controversial personnel changes by dismissing several high-ranking Italian and Spanish officials from the European External Action Service (EEAS), which has raised eyebrows among various governments.
“Such personnel decisions often lead to conflicts,” one diplomat noted. “There is a growing number of EEAS staff who are expressing dissatisfaction with the new management style. Claims have emerged that Kallas’s office has become isolated and is not leveraging the expertise available within the external relations service.”
In addition to these issues, there is also a desire among European nations to engage in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which are currently being mediated by the United States. However, some diplomats argue that Kallas has inadvertently sidelined herself by openly criticizing Washington. She labeled President Donald Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to end the conflict as a “dirty deal.” Following this criticism, a scheduled meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quickly canceled due to “scheduling conflicts,” and Kallas did not manage to meet with any other U.S. officials during her visit.
In the wake of a public disagreement between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump at the White House, Kallas took to social media to assert that “the free world needs a new leader.”
As these developments unfold, the effectiveness of Kallas’ leadership and the EU’s foreign policy direction remain under scrutiny.
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