STORY: European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned on Monday (December 1) that pressuring Ukraine to make concessions in peace negotiations is not in the interests of Ukraine or the European Union. Her comments came after U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Florida to discuss a possible peace deal with Russia.

Speaking after an EU Foreign Affairs Council on Defence, Kallas expressed concern that Ukraine, as the victim of aggression, could be forced to give up territory. "I'm afraid that all the pressure will be put on the victim and Ukraine will have to make concessions," she said.

Kallas also addressed proposals for reparations, saying that a loan based on Russian frozen assets would strengthen Europe's position vis a vis Moscow.

Intensified diplomacy to end Europe's deadliest war in generations jumped across the Atlantic on Monday after U.S. and Ukrainian officials held talks at a golf resort built by Trump's envoy and fellow real estate magnate Steve Witkoff.

Zelenskiy, in Paris, received a show of support from French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, and will head to Ireland on Tuesday. Ukraine's defence minister was due in Brussels for meetings with NATO. Witkoff, meanwhile, was headed to Moscow, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

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U's Kallas says putting pressure on Ukraine is in nobody's interests

VIDEO SHOWS: EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF KAJA KALLAS HOLDING A NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER EU FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (DECEMBER 1, 2025) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF KAJA KALLAS AND OFFICIAL STANDING IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE HALL

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF KAJA KALLAS TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL USE OF RUSSIAN FROZEN FUNDS TO FINANCE UKRAINE, SAYING:

"It will definitely strengthen European position vis-à-vis Moscow. That's very clear. We need to move on with this. This is clear that Russia owes reparations for the damages that they have caused to Ukraine and the reparations loan based on the frozen assets of frozen sovereign assets of Russia is actually the right basis for it."

4. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTIONS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF KAJA KALLAS, SAYING:

"I'm afraid that all the pressure will be put on the victim, which is that Ukraine has to make concessions and obligations. Whereas, you know, in order to have peace, we shouldn't lose focus that it's actually Russia who has started this war, and Russia that is continuing this war. And Russia that is really targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, every single day to cause as much damage as possible."

6. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTIONS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF KAJA KALLAS, SAYING:

"Well, yes, I am afraid that, you know, all the pressure will be put on the weaker side because that is the easier way to stop this war when Ukraine surrenders. But this is not in anybody's interest, not in the interest of Ukraine, not in the interest of European Union, also not in the interest of the global overall security, because it's the United Nations Charter that says that you can't change borders by force. If this pays off, we will see this elsewhere."

8. JOURNALISTS LEAVING NEWSROOM