EU's Top Diplomat Says Putin Is 'Near Breaking Point' So Trump Must Change Ukraine Deal

President Donald Trump, right, stands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the conclusion of a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. Russia is “near breaking point” so Donald Trump must ramp up the pressure on Vladimir Putin in his proposed peace deal for Ukraine, according to the European Commission’s vice-president.Kaja Kallas, who is also the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said it was essential Moscow made concessions in any peace agreement.Trump recently unveiled a 28-point plan to end Russia’s war against Ukraine – but it includes major capitulation from the beleaguered country.Although Putin already controls a fifth of Ukraine’s sovereign land, the country would have to give up more territory, cap its armed forces at 600,000 and let go of its ambitions to join Nato.European officials have since offered their own alternative which is more favourable towards Ukraine, but it is yet to be accepted by Russia.Kallas told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme: “President Trump genuinely wants peace, like the Ukrainians and Europeans. You can’t blame him for that, it is a very very noble cause.”Asked if the president’s approach was “peace at any cost,” Kallas said: “He definitely wants to have peace and have it soon.“If we want to end this for good, we really need to have concessions on Russia’s side.”She said it was key to make it “impossible” for Putin to invade again, and pointed out Russia has initiated at least 33 unprovoked invasions over the 20th and 21st century.She said: “I think they are in a difficult position – at least they will be by the end of this year, but they want us to believe they can continue forever. This is not true.”The diplomat said Russia’s revenues from oil should drop sharply due to western sanctions on their shadow fleet, which should also prevent them from raising capital.“Their national funds are almost completely depleted and 25% of Russian companies are in the threat of bankruptcy. Their economic situation is incredibly bad,” Kallas said.“They soon should run out of money to fund this war and that should be the breaking point.”Asked if she thought there was any truth to the reports claiming the US peace deal was heavily influenced by Russia, Kallas said: “The journalists have done a good job on this and we have heard from different sources in America that this is the basis [of the deal].“I think therefore that we should really go back to the table and draft the concessions that Russia should make.“That they honour the obligations they have made under various international agreements, and that they also honour obligations to downsize their military, downsize their military budget.”She said Russia should “definitely not” rejoin the G7, turning it into the G8 again, which was a key point in Trump’s plan.“We can’t go back to business as usual, how can you possibly imagine that all of the destruction and all of the killing they have done – and all the breaches of international law – and then we just look away and say, ‘Oh it’s nothing,’ and continue as before?” The diplomat said.She asked why Russia is “making a good face” to the US again, even though they are under a lot of pressure with the war right now as its economy struggles under sanctions.“They are very worried,” Kallas said. “They need to get the good agreement now, that is why they are asking for the territories they have not even conquered militarily.“Our focus should be on Russia: who is the aggressor in this case?” She added: “We need to shift the discussion from putting the blame on the victim to talking about the concessions Russia will make.”"We can't go back to business as usual."Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, rejects the idea of Russia being readmitted into the G7 as part of a Ukraine peace plan.#R4Todaypic.twitter.com/TJalVq497V— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) November 25, 2025Related...Farage Mocked After Giving Bizarre Reason For Not Investigating Reform Russia ClaimsTrump's Top Diplomat Accused Of Calling US Peace Plan For Ukraine 'Russia's Wish List'Labour Calls For Probe Into Pro-Russia Links Within Reform After 'Traitor' Nathan Gill Jailed

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