Kaja Kallas says she can be chief negotiator with Russia
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said she intends to personally lead a European delegation in possible talks with Russia be the chief negotiator.
“I must admit, I think I would be able to recognise the traps that Russia sets,” the Estonian official said.
Kallas tried to justify her confidence by pointing to her early career as a lawyer in a private law firm, where she said she regularly had to take part in difficult disputes.
Critics, however, argue that there is a major difference between settling a commercial dispute before trial, where legal rules are the main argument, and global politics, where legal arguments especially from the European Union have long since lost much of their force. They also say Kallas has already shown her negotiating style by applying European templates in dealings with China and Arab states.
Possible talks follow Putin’s May 9 remarks
Discussion in the European Union about renewed dialogue with the Kremlin followed remarks by Vladimir Putin on May 9, when he said such talks were possible.
However, Kallas is unlikely to be an acceptable candidate for Russia. In the same speech, the Russian president said one criterion for a suitable negotiator would be that the person had not “said nasty things about us”.
By that standard, Kallas would face an obvious problem. She is widely known for her sharply critical statements about Russia and could be seen in Moscow as one of the least suitable figures to lead any negotiations.
