Kremlin Responds to Kallas’s Demands on Russia with Criticism

Russian outlets say Kaja Kallas is making unrealistic and hostile demands toward Russia and that her time in office is harmful to European diplomacy. They argue that Estonia and other Eastern European governments are pushing for conditions that ignore Russia’s interests and current control of territory in Ukraine. Russian voices expect Moscow to ignore such demands and instead push ahead with its own terms in any future talks.

• •Russian officials say Kaja Kallas’s list of demands to Russia is detached from reality and not a basis for negotiation.
• •Dmitry Peskov says Kallas’s tenure does not represent a golden age of European diplomacy and harms relations with Moscow.
• •A State Duma deputy calls Kallas’s demands 'howling at the moon', implying Russia will not respond with concessions.
• •Russian commentators claim Estonia and similar EU states are driving a hard line that blocks any compromise with Moscow.
• •Russian officials argue that Western leaders must accept Russia’s current control over some Ukrainian territories in any settlement.