Former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas is set to take the helm of EU diplomacy in November. She argued that China should bear a higher price for its alleged support of Russia in the war in Ukraine. The remark was reported by NTV, a German television channel, which captured her comments during a broader discussion about international responses to the conflict. Kallas has repeatedly stressed that Moscow’s actions cannot be judged in isolation, and she views Beijing’s stance as a critical factor in the course of the war. The forthcoming role of the EU’s top diplomat has placed her at the center of a debate about how Europe should engage with both Russia and China in the coming years, balancing deterrence with diplomacy while trying to preserve unity among member states. This statement reflects her long-standing position that Western allies must apply meaningful consequences to countries that provide support to Russia while coordinating with partners across continents to sustain Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction efforts. According to observers, her stance signals a willingness to push for tougher lines on Beijing, pairing diplomatic pressure with readiness to mobilize EU resources across political, economic, and strategic domains. In two ways, her prediction aligns with a broader European strategy to ensure that the costs of extending the war to neighboring regions are borne by those who are perceived as enabling Moscow.
Kallas argued that without China’s backing, Russia could not have carried out its operations with such intensity. She contended that Beijing must pay a higher price for its actions, linking the outcome of the war to the support provided by two major world powers. Those remarks were conveyed through NTV’s coverage, which framed the comments as part of a wider critique of how Western partners engage with Beijing on security and trade issues. The statement underscores a larger debate within European capitals about how to deter aggression while maintaining pragmatic relations with major economies. By emphasizing the role of China, Kallas is drawing attention to the interconnected web of alliances and rivalries that shape Ukraine’s fate. Her position mirrors a push from some EU voices for more coordinated sanctions, export controls, and financial measures aimed at increasing the economic and political costs for countries that support Moscow. In her view, a stronger price tag could also affect China’s own calculations about risk, trade, and diplomatic alignment in the region.
Kallas headed the Estonian government from January 2021 to July 2024, becoming the first woman to hold the post. During her tenure, she navigated Estonia through a period marked by renewed European security concerns, debates over digital governance, and a sharpened focus on defense and energy independence. The politician has earned a reputation for a steadfast anti-Russian stance and for supporting Ukraine, including calls for greater NATO presence near the Baltic Sea and more robust EU funding for resilience and humanitarian aid. Her leadership helped shape Estonia’s approach to cyber defense, cross-border cooperation, and coordination with Baltic states on foreign policy. Observers note that her track record includes close collaboration with European partners and a willingness to take bold positions when the bloc faces sensitive choices about confrontation and dialogue with Moscow. Her experience offers the EU a tested voice on enlargement, security architecture, and the calculus of sanctions, while reinforcing the message that European values and strategic interests can go hand in hand in a volatile neighborhood.
On September 17, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen approved Kallas’ candidacy for the post of High Representative of the EU for Foreign and Security Policy. The term of Josep Borrell, the current high representative, ends on December 1. Supporters point to Kallas’s blunt diplomacy style, her experience in managing Baltic security challenges, and her ability to build consensus across EU capitals. Critics caution about the challenges of coordinating a unified EU stance on strategic competition with China, Russia, and other major actors while maintaining a coherent approach to human rights and values in external policy. The decision places the European Union at a pivotal juncture, as it contends with energy security, economic resilience, and the evolving security landscape in Europe and beyond. In parallel, policymakers weigh practical steps to strengthen EU strategic autonomy and to articulate a clear voice in global institutions when it comes to climate policy, trade rules, and regional stability.
Previously, Kallas named the priorities of her work as head of EU diplomacy. She outlined a framework built on reinforcing unity among member states, sustaining steadfast support for Ukraine, and elevating the EU’s role in shaping international norms. Her agenda includes sharpening the EU’s diplomatic toolkit, expanding partnerships with like-minded democracies, and aligning security policy with broader economic and technological strategies. By emphasizing resilience, transparency, and a principled stance in international forums, she signals a plan to push for stronger sanctions regimes, targeted support measures for allies, and a more assertive EU voice on issues ranging from cyber defense to energy security. The statements reflect a broader aim to project a coherent, values-driven European foreign policy that can respond to rapid shifts in global power dynamics while protecting citizens and economies across Canada and the United States.