EU’s Kallas furious over Spanish PM’s remarks
2 Min Read
Tensions erupted at a recent EU summit in Brussels when Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, strongly opposed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s suggestion to appoint a special representative for the Ukraine peace talks.
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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP)
The EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, strongly rejected Spain’s proposal to appoint a special representative to mediate a Ukraine peace deal, according to multiple news agencies citing sources familiar with the discussions.
During Thursday’s summit in Brussels, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez backed the idea—previously supported by Finland and Croatia—arguing that “we need a negotiating team and a representative that speaks for European citizens.”
His remarks reportedly “angered” Kallas, who insisted that she was the appropriate figure to lead talks between Russia and Ukraine, as reported by Euractiv, citing an EU diplomat.
Bloomberg further noted that Kallas “took offense” at Sanchez’s stance, leading to “a heated exchange” behind closed doors. According to sources, she tole the Spanish PM, “What am I here for?”
In a similar vein, Politico Europe quoted two EU diplomats who stated that Kallas emphasized her role as the bloc’s representative and dismissed the idea of appointing another envoy as “not useful.”
Wider context
Tensions over diplomatic strategy were compounded by concerns that European leaders felt sidelined after US President Donald Trump initiated direct talks with Russia without consulting them. Trump, who has prioritized saving lives, spoke separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week, leading to an agreement for a 30-day pause on strikes targeting energy infrastructure. He has also refused to pledge unconditional support for Kiev or provide specific security guarantees.
The summit also saw disagreements over military funding. Spain and Italy pushed back against Kallas’ proposal to raise €40 billion ($43 billion) in additional military aid for Ukraine, calling it too expensive.
Sanchez also challenged the European Commission’s newly proposed €800 billion ($868 billion) plan to “rearm” the EU, stating that Brussels must recognize that “the challenges that we face in the southern neighborhood are a bit different [from] the ones the eastern flank [faces].”
Read next: EU capitals argue over more military aid to Ukraine: FT
