Kallas Says Putin Will Not Stop as Russia Tests Europe
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned on Tuesday, Sept. 15, that Russia is intensifying hybrid attacks against Europe and called for Moscow to face greater costs.
“Putin will not stop unless he is stopped,” Kallas told the European Parliament in Strasbourg. “So as Russia is willing to take greater risks, Europe must impose a greater cost.”
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Russia tests Europe
Kallas pointed to four incidents over the previous 48 hours: a Russian warship firing flares at a Danish helicopter, NATO jets shooting down a drone over Lithuania, Russia striking a passenger train near Ukraine’s border and Poland recovering a drone from its waters.
“These are not accidents,” she said, describing them as calculated attempts by Russia to weaken European resolve and test its unity.
Kallas stressed that Europe would not reduce its support for Ukraine as Moscow escalates both its war against Kyiv and hostile activity across Europe.
More pressure on Moscow
According to Kallas, EU sanctions have already deprived Russia’s economy of €1 trillion, while Brussels is finalizing its largest number of new sanctions listings yet.
She said EU naval operations are boarding suspected vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, while diplomatic pressure has led to hundreds of ships being stripped of their flags.
Kallas also called for tighter restrictions on Russian diplomats traveling within the Schengen area, a ban on visas for Russian former combatants and a review of tourist visas for Russian citizens.
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Zelensky said the alleged incidents were part of a Russian effort to intimidate him and foreign leaders traveling to Ukraine.
Ukraine and peace
In her closing remarks, Kallas rejected arguments that Ukraine should simply surrender territory to secure peace.
“Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians,” she said, adding that Ukraine had agreed to multiple ceasefires while Russia continued escalating attacks on civilians.
“If aggression pays off, then we will see more of it,” Kallas said.