Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, has faced significant criticism during her early months in the role, with detractors accusing her of overstepping her bounds and taking a more aggressive stance on foreign policy than some within the EU would prefer, POLITICO writes.
Kallas made headlines during a trip to Kyiv when she tweeted: “[T]he European Union wants Ukraine to win this war” against Russia. Some EU officials expressed discomfort with Kallas, who had just begun her tenure, for going beyond the typically agreed-upon language on such matters. One EU diplomat, speaking anonymously, remarked, “She (Kallas) is still acting like a prime minister.”
Several EU diplomats and officials pointed to what they saw as a series of missteps by Kallas early on. From pushing heavy proposals without sufficient backing to making foreign policy statements without proper consultation, they raised concerns about her leadership style. Diplomats noted that Kallas often bypassed necessary discussions with EU member states, especially when it came to military aid for Ukraine.
As Kallas asserted her influence on the role, her approach caused tension with some EU countries. Diplomats from Spain and Italy disagreed with her hawkish stance on Russia, which they did not view as an immediate threat to the EU.
“If you listen to her it seems we are at war with Russia, which is not the EU line,” one EU official commented.
One of the most contentious moments came when Kallas proposed a plan to secure billions in military aid for Ukraine after U.S. Vice President JD Vance downplayed Russia as a threat. Kallas, in a manner reminiscent of her prime ministerial role, circulated a proposal to the EU’s 27 member states, asking them to provide 1.5 million rounds of artillery ammunition, among other resources, without prior consultation. The proposal was sent unexpectedly on a Sunday evening, ahead of an upcoming foreign affairs meeting, leaving many officials frustrated.
The proposal was structured to require contributions proportional to the size of each country’s economy, a move intended to encourage larger EU nations like France to contribute more. However, this approach was perceived by some as coercive, raising concerns about fairness within the bloc.
Criticism escalated when Kallas agreed to scale back her ambitious plan, seeking €5 billion worth of artillery shells as a first step, which some viewed as a step backward.
Two diplomats from Eastern and Northern Europe pointed out that Kallas failed to secure the support of key countries such as France before presenting her proposal. “This sort of came out of nowhere. The process could have been better managed to avoid taking people by surprise,” one said, although they also acknowledged that Kallas would likely have faced backlash regardless of how she handled the process.
