EU’s Kaja Kallas Says the US Is Still Europe’s “Biggest Ally” Despite Harsh Criticism:

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that the United States remains Europe’s most important ally, even though the US recently published a strategy document that sharply criticizes the continent. She made the comments on Saturday while speaking at the Doha Forum in Qatar, as international efforts continue to push for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. The American National Security Strategy included several controversial claims about Europe. It accused Europe of lacking “self-confidence” and warned that the continent was facing “civilizational erasure”—a claim many experts have dismissed as exaggerated. Still, Kallas admitted that some of the criticisms were not entirely wrong. However, she insisted that disagreements should not overshadow the strong partnership between Europe and the US. “We haven’t always agreed on everything,” Kallas said, “but the main principle remains: we are the closest allies.” She added that the US should focus on helping Europe “correct its current trajectory” rather than creating divisions. The tone of the US document echoed earlier criticisms from former President Donald Trump’s administration, which repeatedly accused European countries of not contributing enough to NATO. During the ongoing Ukraine war, Washington has pressured European governments to increase their military spending and support. Meanwhile, Trump has recently taken a leading role in proposals to end the war. His plan involves Ukraine giving up some territory currently occupied by Russia in exchange for security guarantees. These guarantees, however, fall short of Ukraine’s long-term goal of joining NATO, making the plan controversial both in Kyiv and across Europe. US officials have held three consecutive days of meetings with Ukrainian negotiators to discuss changes to the draft plan. These discussions follow five hours of talks in Moscow earlier in the week, where Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated that he would not give up his territorial demands. According to US officials, progress in the peace process will depend on Russia showing “serious commitment” to de-escalation and ending the violence. Kallas warned that putting too much pressure on Ukraine to accept Russia’s demands would not lead to real, lasting peace. She pointed out that past attempts to push Kyiv into concessions only encouraged further aggression. “If aggression is rewarded,” she said, “it will happen again—not only in Ukraine or Gaza, but in many places around the world.” Kallas also said that Europe has been underestimating its own strength. She argued that the continent needs to be more confident, especially when dealing with Russia. “Towards Russia, for example, we should be more self-confident,” she said, emphasizing that Europe must recognize its political and economic power as it faces ongoing security challenges. With the war now in its third year and no clear end in sight, Europe remains worried about the conflict spreading beyond Ukraine’s borders. Kallas urged the EU and the US to continue working together, saying unity is essential for peace and stability.

NEWS