The European Union stated that Ukraine has strengthened its military position in the war with Russia: "Putin is weaker than ever."

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, advocated for new measures to support Ukraine (REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza/Archive). The European Union stated on Monday that the balance of the war in Ukraine had begun to shift in favor of Kyiv, amid significant Russian military losses and Ukrainian attacks within Russian territory. The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, said that Russia faces a more complex situation than in previous stages of the war and warned that the bloc would maintain and intensify its support for Ukraine. "Record losses for Moscow on the battlefield, deep Ukrainian attacks within Russia, and a shrinking military parade are clear signs that the dynamics of the war are changing," Kallas said after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers. The Estonian official stated that Ukraine is "in a much better position than it was a year ago," although she clarified that the situation remains delicate and ruled out any scenario of easing by Europe. "There is no time for complacency," she insisted. The statements came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said over the weekend that the war "is coming to an end." However, Brussels interpreted the situation differently. Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a press conference in Moscow, amid new European assessments of Russia's military attrition in Ukraine (REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov/Archive). "I believe the overall impression is that Putin is in a weaker position than ever," Kallas said. The European Union also used the ministerial meeting to approve new initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine's capabilities, both on the military front and in the institutional sphere. Among the decisions adopted is the extension of the mandate of the European advisory mission in Ukraine, which can now actively intervene against hybrid threats and collaborate on programs to reintegrate war veterans. Brussels also decided to strengthen its community satellite center with the aim of improving monitoring of any ceasefire and increasing control over possible evasion of sanctions by Russia. Kallas also confirmed that the European Union will formally join the special court that will investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine, and that the bloc will participate in the International Claims Commission created to document damages and abuses committed during the Russian invasion. Another key aspect of the meeting was related to Ukraine's future accession to the European bloc. The head of the community diplomacy highlighted that Kyiv has made significant progress in political and institutional reforms despite the war. Flags of the European Union flutter in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium (REUTERS/Yves Herman/Archive). "Ukraine has made remarkable progress under extremely difficult circumstances," she said. For this reason, she called on member states to accelerate the opening of all negotiation chapters before the European summer. Kallas emphasized that Ukraine's eventual accession should not be seen solely as a political gesture towards Kyiv, but as a strategic decision for European security. "Ukraine's accession is not an act of charity. It is an investment in our own security," she said. Despite the political support, some European governments still have reservations about the speed of the accession process. Within the EU, there are debates about possible intermediate formulas that would allow for greater Ukrainian integration without yet completing the full accession process. At the same time, Kallas made it clear that Brussels does not yet consider it feasible to open direct negotiations with Russia under the current conditions. According to her, Moscow "is not negotiating in good faith" and it will first be necessary for European countries to jointly define their red lines with the Kremlin. The official also rejected suggestions from Russia about possible alternative European interlocutors for dialogue. In this context, she strongly criticized former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, whom she described as "a high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies." Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, pointed out by European officials for his closeness to Russian state-owned companies (REUTERS/Archive). In addition to military and political support for Kyiv, the European Union announced new sanctions against 23 Russian officials and institutions accused of participating in the deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian minors transferred from occupied territories. Since the start of the invasion in February 2022, international organizations and Western governments have reported the forced transfer of thousands of children to Russian territory or areas controlled by Moscow. European estimates speak of nearly 20,000 minors affected. "The abduction of Ukrainian children is one of the worst crimes of this war," Kallas said. "Stealing children is a calculated attack by Russia against the future of Ukraine," she added. The sanctions approved by the 27 EU countries include asset freezes and travel restrictions. The measures were also coordinated with Canada and the United Kingdom, which announced similar decisions. At the same time, Brussels held an international meeting on Monday aimed at coordinating actions to facilitate the return of Ukrainian minors who were transferred outside their country during the war. (With information from EFE and AFP)