EU's Kallas Accuses US of Pushing Ukraine to Surrender on Putin's Terms

Top diplomat warns of American pressure as peace talks begin in Oslo; Europe demands seat at the table

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has accused the United States of pressuring Ukraine to capitulate on terms favourable to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to the European Parliament on Tuesday, she said American negotiators have been trying for nearly two years to push Kyiv into surrender, and that only European support had prevented that outcome. Kallas spoke as a new round of peace talks opened in Oslo, Norway, with senior officials from the EU, NATO, and several European nations.

The accusation deepens a growing transatlantic rift over the war in Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump struck a diesel supply deal with Putin and eased sanctions without securing Russian concessions. Trump has also called for wartime elections in Ukraine, a demand Kyiv rejects, and complained that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is 'more difficult to deal with' than Putin.

Zelenskyy himself has said he feels betrayed. 'I believe steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate,' he told Bloomberg in a recent interview.

Kallas argued that Europe must be present at the negotiating table to counterbalance the White House's increasingly Moscow-leaning positions. She presented EU capitals with a document of 'maximum demands' Russia should meet, including on sanctions relief, which can only be lifted by European decisions. 'We are not giving these things up for free because it is not only peace that could be there, but it's also that this peace is long-lasting and just,' she said.

She also accused Russia of endangering Black Sea security, weaponising food supplies, and refusing an energy ceasefire while escalating its winter bombing campaign. 'And Europe wants peace. It is not right to say that we don't want peace. The only one who doesn't want peace is Russia. Let's be very clear-eyed about this,' she added.

European officials from the European Commission, NATO, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland flew to Oslo on Tuesday to participate in the talks.

Analysis

Why This Matters

A breakdown in US-Europe unity on Ukraine could leave Kyiv isolated and strengthen Russia's negotiating position.
The dispute threatens to weaken Western sanctions and energy policy coordination.
The Oslo talks represent a critical test of whether Europe can re-insert itself into a peace process dominated by Washington and Moscow.

Background

The Russia-Ukraine war has entered its fifth year. The US under Donald Trump has shifted toward direct engagement with Russia, easing sanctions and striking energy deals, while pressing Ukraine to hold elections. The EU has maintained its support for Ukraine and insists it must be involved in any peace settlement. Kaja Kallas has been among the most vocal European critics of Trump's approach.

Key Perspectives

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas: Accuses the US of pushing Ukraine to surrender on Russian terms; demands Europe be at the negotiating table. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Says he feels betrayed by Trump and believes Ukraine is being pushed to capitulate. European Parliament critics: Some MEPs have argued the EU has no coherent peace strategy, a claim Kallas rejected, pointing to her list of demands for Russia.

What to Watch

Whether the Oslo talks produce any movement toward a ceasefire or remain a platform for continued divisions.
Russia's response to the EU's demand to be included in negotiations over sanctions relief.
The effect of Trump's diesel deal on Europe's energy security and the transatlantic relationship.

Sources

Kaja Kallas accuses the US of pushing Ukraine to 'surrender on Putin's terms' · Euronews

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedKallas accused the US of pushing Ukraine to surrender on terms favourable to Putin.Euronews: “Kaja Kallas accuses the US of pushing Ukraine to 'surrender on Putin's terms'.”
SupportedKallas warned of American pressure as peace talks began in Oslo, while Europe demanded a seat at the table.Euronews: “High Representative Kaja Kallas has sharply accused the United States of pressuring Ukraine to capitulate on terms exclusively favourable to Russian President Vladimir Putin, just as a new round of peace talks unfolded in Oslo, Norway.”
SupportedKallas said American negotiators had been trying for nearly two years to push Ukraine into surrender, and that European support was why it had not surrendered.Euronews: ““American negotiators have been trying to push Ukraine into surrender for almost two years,” Kaja Kallas said amid rising EU-US tensions.”
SupportedSenior officials from the European Commission, NATO, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland flew to Oslo on Tuesday for the talks.Euronews: “Senior officials from the European Commission, NATO, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland flew to Oslo on Tuesday to take part in the latest round of talks.”
Partly supportedKallas’s accusation deepened a growing transatlantic rift over Ukraine.Euronews: ““American negotiators have been trying to push Ukraine into surrender for almost two years,” Kaja Kallas said amid rising EU-US tensions.”
SupportedTrump struck a diesel supply deal with Putin and eased sanctions without securing Russian concessions.Euronews: “Relations between the US and Europe have worsened since US President Donald Trump struck a diesel supply deal with Putin and eased sanctions until April 2027 without obtaining any Russian concessions in return.”
Partly supportedTrump called for wartime elections in Ukraine, a demand Kyiv rejects.Euronews: “Trump has called for new elections in Ukraine, which are barred during wartime”
SupportedZelenskyy told Bloomberg, “I believe steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate.”Euronews: ““I believe steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate,” Zelenskyy told Bloomberg in a recent interview.”
Partly supportedKallas presented EU capitals with maximum demands for Russia to meet, including on sanctions relief.Euronews: “Kallas raised the alarm about the latest developments as she addressed the Parliament in Strasbourg, where several MEPs complained Europe lacked a peace strategy. “That is not true,” Kallas said, referring to a document she had presented to EU capitals with demands that Europe should expect Moscow to fulfil in a future settlement.”
SupportedKallas said, “We are not giving these things up for free because it is not only peace that could be there, but it's also that this peace is long-lasting and just.”Euronews: ““We are not giving these things up for free because it is not only peace that could be there, but it’s also that this peace is long-lasting and just,” she added.”
SupportedKallas accused Russia of endangering Black Sea security, weaponising food supplies, refusing an energy ceasefire and escalating its bombing campaign ahead of winter.Euronews: “Kallas accused Russia of endangering the security of the Black Sea with its armed blockade, weaponising food supplies and trying to trigger a global famine. ... The High Representative also censured Moscow for refusing an energy ceasefire and ramping up its bombing campaign against Ukraine ahead of the winter season.”
SupportedKallas said, “And Europe wants peace. It is not right to say that we don't want peace. The only one who doesn't want peace is Russia. Let's be very clear-eyed about this.”Euronews: ““And Europe wants peace. It is not right to say that we don’t want peace. The only one who doesn’t want peace is Russia. Let’s be very clear-eyed about this.””