**EU Diplomat Warns Against Land Concessions to Russia in Ukraine Conflict**

**The EU’s high representative cautions against underestimating Russia's intentions, highlighting the necessity for robust security measures and a united front among allies.**

The European Union's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has issued a stern warning against the proposal for Ukraine to cede land to Russia as part of future peace negotiations. In her first interview in the UK since the EU's engagement with U.S. peace talks, Kallas told the BBC that allowing Russia to retain control over Ukrainian territories, particularly the contested Donbas region, is a “trap that Putin wants us to walk into.” Over the last decade, ongoing military aggression has led to the displacement of 1.5 million Ukrainians from the area.

Despite pressure from international figures like former President Donald Trump advocating for territorial swaps, Ukraine has remained firm in its stance against yielding any part of Donbas to Russia. Kallas, whose name appears on the Kremlin's "wanted list," emphasized the importance of establishing "credible and robust" security guarantees for Ukraine, expressing concern that current negotiations lack concrete measures for deterrence. “The strongest security guarantee is a strong Ukrainian army,” she asserted, stressing the need for guarantees that will hold water beyond mere documentation.

The recent summit in Alaska, which featured discussions between Trump and Putin, raised alarms for Kallas, who stated that Putin gained significant concessions in that meeting, leading to a potential decline in his willingness to negotiate peace. “He got such a welcoming and he wanted sanctions not to be put in place, which he also achieved,” Kallas remarked, adding that the EU has implemented its 19th package of sanctions to further apply pressure on the Russian leader.

Meanwhile, Trump has set a two-week deadline for evaluating the progress of the peace talks, hinting at possible shifts in strategy if no advancements are made. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, remains skeptical of Russia's interest in a meeting, stating that current signals indicate a reluctance to engage meaningfully. Zelensky has reiterated the urgency for clarity on security guarantees from Western allies, urging them to outline their commitments over the next week.

In a grim reflection of the ongoing conflict, Russian military actions continue to escalate, with significant airstrikes reported in various Ukrainian locations, including lethal attacks in Lviv. European leaders, slamming Putin's trustworthiness, echoed sentiments about the Russian leader's unwillingness to pursue peace, with French President Emmanuel Macron branding him as “a predator” while expressing doubts about potential negotiations. Zelensky remains open to discussions “in any format” but notes that there is no apparent signal from Moscow of genuine engagement in substantive negotiations.