EU's top diplomat says Europe is trying to convince US to pressure Russia

European politicians are trying to convince their US partners that pressure must be put on Russia in order to end the war in Ukraine.

As reported by European Pravda's Brussels correspondent, Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, explained on the sidelines of the EU leaders' summit how Europe intends to convince the US of the need to pressure the Kremlin.

"We are trying to convince also our American partners that if we want to end this war, then we have to squeeze the aggressor, because it is not only to end this war, but to make sure that there are no more wars started by Russia," she said.

Kallas said that together with the EU foreign ministers, she has prepared "our list of requests, our list of European security concerns that we should also present to Russia and not give all the things that they are interested in without having some kind of concessions also from the Russian side".

"But, of course, you can see that, with our American allies, it is very difficult at the moment," Kallas noted.

She added that American Starlink systems are indeed necessary for Ukraine, and unfortunately, "in the short term, Europe cannot replace this capability".

"That is why we have also today the discussion about defence readiness," Kallas stated.

She also raised the issue of frozen Russian assets being used for the benefit of Ukraine.

"We have agreed that we will not return the frozen assets unless Russia pays reparations for Ukraine. Ukraine needs this money right now. So [we should] work with these solidarity mechanisms to divide the risk between Member States, so that we can actually help Ukraine," Kallas concluded.

European Pravda reported that support for Ukraine will be discussed in Brussels on 16 October, the second day of the EU leaders' summit, with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. EU leaders have publicly assured the Ukrainian president that sanctions against Russia will under no circumstances be eased.

Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has categorically opposed discussing the idea of using the frozen assets belonging to the Russian Central Bank for the benefit of Ukraine.

European Pravda previously reported that there would be no decisions regarding funding for Ukraine and Russian assets at the EU leaders' summit on 15-16 October due to a lack of consensus on the matter.