UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥 The European Union has a message for the Trump administration: It will continue supporting Ukraine against Russia鈥檚 illegal invasion, step up humanitarian aid when others pull back, and boost global teamwork to address the world鈥檚 challenges.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas never mentioned the United States in her speech to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday. But her points were clearly aimed at President 鈥檚 dismissive language about Europe, his massive cutbacks in aid to poor and conflict-torn countries, and his administration's reluctance to acknowledge that Russia invaded Ukraine.
Following talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the Trump administration said it was for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia. The U.S.-Ukraine deal is now pending Moscow鈥檚 agreement.
Looking at the world 80 years after the U.N. was founded on the ashes of World War II, Kallas said its foundations are facing 鈥渦nprecedented pressure.鈥 She cited blatant violations of the U.N. Charter, 鈥渁ttempts to replace the rule of law by the rule of force,鈥 and universal principles promoting peace, human rights and development 鈥渦nder heavy fire.鈥
At a news conference afterward, she said, 鈥淭he world is more dangerous now than it has ever been since the Cold War.鈥
Kallas told the council, 鈥淭he EU will remain the U.N.鈥檚 reliable partner of choice鈥 and will defend the U.N. Charter, which says every country must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.
That鈥檚 why it has supported Ukraine鈥檚 right to self-defense and stands with Kyiv 鈥渇or a just and lasting peace in line with the Charter,鈥 she said, stressing that Russia must lose its 鈥渃olonial war.鈥
The EU will always support rising humanitarian needs, with almost 2 billion euros this year, she said, a dig at the Trump administration, which dismantled the U.S. aid agency and is eliminating 83% of its programs.
Kallas also stressed the need to boost multilateralism and engage with partners, which 鈥渋s the only way forward in solving issues.鈥
She was asked afterward about a Trump comment that the EU was created to destroy the U.S. when it comes to trade and was asked whether the 27-nation bloc could overcome that antagonism.
Surrounded by diplomats from all EU member nations, Kallas replied that the EU is 鈥渁 peace project鈥 created to ensure there would be no more wars among its members.
Right now, 鈥渙ur relations with third parties around the world show that everybody is looking at us because we are the reliable, predictable partner,鈥 she said. 鈥淪o, I really see the possibility to grow Europe鈥檚 geopolitical presence.鈥
The EU came under attack from Russia during the Security Council meeting.
After Kallas pledged to continue EU support to Ukraine, Russia鈥檚 U.N. ambassador blasted the European bloc for what it called a long history of anti-Russian sentiment.
鈥淭his sensible club aimed at integration, which used to promote cooperation with Russia, has today definitively turned into a fossilized, aggressive Russophobia bloc, which has staked its energy, economic, social and financial wellbeing on a pointless confrontation with its eastern neighbor,鈥 Vassily Nebenzia said.
鈥淭oday, more than ever, it鈥檚 clear that the EU is seriously losing in this confrontation,鈥 he said.
Kallas retorted that Nebenzia鈥檚 comments were a good example of rewriting history and how 鈥渕isinformation and disinformation鈥 and 鈥渓ies鈥 must be fought.
She said countries are afraid of Russia because of the countries it has attacked, 鈥渁nd these fears are not ungrounded.鈥
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