Kaja Kallas warns Russia is ‘trying to bomb and freeze’ Ukrainians as EU meets in Brussels
Arriving for an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on 29 January 2026, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Russia is “bombing Ukrainians, trying to bomb and freeze them to surrender,” and said ministers had a “very package agenda” including Ukraine, the evolving EU‑US relationship and the Middle East.
Kallas said the Russian delegation at talks in the UAE continued to represent only military personnel with “no mandate to agree on anything,” and questioned whether Russia is genuinely committed to the peace process. She urged more pressure on Russia and said the council would discuss energy support for Ukraine because “it’s very hard winter and Ukrainians are really suffering.” She warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe and expressed concern that concessions by Ukraine were “blurring the picture,” stressing that “Ukraine is not the one who is doing the aggression.” Kallas also downplayed proposals for a single “European army,” saying military command must remain clear and largely in national hands.
The European Commission said the EU plans to spend €145m on aid for Ukraine to provide protection, shelter, food, cash assistance, psychosocial support and access to water and health services amid attacks on energy infrastructure. Separately, Kallas said she expected agreement to add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the EU’s terrorist list and to widen sanctions against Iranian officials and organisations.
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