Gymnich: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival
European External Action Service (EEAS)
29.08.2025
Copenhagen
EEAS Press Team
Check against delivery!
Good to be here in Denmark.
We have Gymnich meetings coming. Today is the defence ministers, and tomorrow it is going to be the foreign ministers.
Of course, the main topic we have is Russia's war against Ukraine. We saw yesterday the huge attacks on Kyiv, also the European Delegation was hit. Fortunately, nobody was hurt physically - but still, these attacks show that Putin is just mocking any kind of peace efforts that are made. What we have to do is increase pressure on Russia. This is really what they understand, the pressure.
Then a second topic we are going to discuss today is defence readiness. It is clear that we have different capability areas where we have to do more, and I expect Member States to take the lead in those capability areas. We have to be very concrete to go with the concrete projects, and how we move on.
And then, of course, other topics are going to be on our foreign affairs council as well, as the Middle East. Of course, there, we have really no improvements. But when it comes to Iran, then you know all that yesterday, the snapback was started. We are entering a new phase. These 30 days are now giving us also the opportunity to really find diplomatic ways to find a solution.
Thank you.
Q&A.
Q. [inaudible] a legal and justified? Is it wrong?
Well, this is their claim all the time, but if you read the JCPOA, and the conditions that are there, then Iran has not met those conditions for quite some time. So, it is the decision of E3. And of course, now we have these 30 days to sort things out and maybe have a different solution.
Q. You had a call with them yesterday. What was your advice [inaudible]?
This is [it], that we really have to use the 30 days to find solutions, diplomatic solutions, how we go forward. These are the worries that we have with Iran. They are very clear when it comes to their nuclear program, when it comes to their ballistic missiles, also their support to Russia.
Q. Will you also be discussing security guarantees for a [inaudible] EU27 [inaudible]. Countries like Austria have considered themselves neutral.
Well, when we talk on the European Union level, then what is our contribution to the security guarantees is the training mission, military mission, and also the support for the defence industry of Ukraine. So, all these three elements. Also, the neutral countries can participate. We are discussing today how to change the mandate of all those missions in order to be ready after any peace agreement is put in place. And of course, every Member State is deciding what they are doing or how they are contributing to the security guarantees. But, the European Union, we have the mission is a training mission and the civilian mission.
Q. What do you think about boots on the ground?
Well, it is a decision of every single Member State. So, we have already heard that some Member States are saying they are ready to send their troops. Some are not ready. But these discussions are still ongoing, and I think it is very important that we are preparing for the day after.
Q. How do you want to ensure the safety of boots on the ground when Russia repeatedly says that they don't want to have Western troops in Ukraine?
Well, again, Russia does not want peace, that is very clear. Right now, also the attacks that they are doing. So, we have to put the pressure on them so that they would also want peace. This is the only thing that works on them.
Q. How do you increase the pressure, High Representative? What would you like to see next in terms of measures against Moscow?
Yes, we are working on the next package, and there are several options on the table. Of course, what will hurt them the most is any sanctions on energy and all the secondary sanctions that the Americans have put for example. But also, [sanctions on] financial services, that really hinder them, the access to capital, what they so desperately need.
Q. How [inaudible] among Member States to go that far?
Well, the discussions are ongoing, and as you know, we always put a lot of things on the table. And then eventually we have to agree. But these discussions are ongoing, and everybody understands that, considering how Putin is mocking the peace efforts, the only thing that works is pressure.
Q. What do you say to critics that say that Ukraine needs backup now, [inaudible], and not security guarantees?
Ukraine needs backup now. And Ukraine needs all the military support right now. That is why we are also discussing with the defence ministers what more can we do now. We have the ammunition initiative, and we have put a deadline at the end of this year. We are discussing whether we can bring it forward, because they desperately need ammunition. They desperately need air defence, all these things. This is also something that we need to discuss right now. When it comes to security guarantees, of course, we are talking about the day after, but as I said, it is not close if you look at what Putin is doing.
Q. The US has a big interest in Greenland. Is there any joint EU efforts to offer some safety guarantees in case they were to attack?
Well, of course, we are respecting Greenland's decisions, whatever they want to decide, and also we are supporting Denmark as EU Member State. So, we are in this together, we are unified. And whatever Denmark needs, as a good Member State everybody else is in solidarity with Denmark. Thank you very much.
Q. Do you think that it is possible to trade Ukranian troops [inaudible] part of Ukraine already before the ceasefire agreement?
Well, these discussions are ongoing, but there is appetite to do the training when there is a ceasefire. If we talk about changing the mandate, then we can discuss how much Member States are willing to even to do it before the ceasefire is in place. Thank you.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-276201
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