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This decision strengthened her reputation as a critic of the Kremlin.
The current head of EU diplomacy, Kaia Kallas, back in June 2021, when she held the position of Prime Minister of Estonia, thwarted the attempt of then German Chancellor Angela Merkel to invite Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to the summit of European Union leaders in Brussels.
Politico writes about this case.
The event took place only five months after the appointment of Callas as Prime Minister. At the time, the media headlines were full of warnings about the build-up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine, but Merkel, having secured the support of French President Emmanuel Macron, promoted the idea of inviting Putin to the EU summit.
At a meeting of the European Council, Callas openly questioned the need for such an initiative. According to diplomats, her words sounded like a decisive challenge: "What is the summit about? Why is this necessary?". Kallas also emphasized that Putin cannot be trusted and should neither be appeased nor appeased. Her position found support among several Eastern European countries.
Due to the lack of unified support among politicians, Merkel was forced to abandon her idea. As Politico writes, after the chancellor left the room, Macron expressed surprise at the audacity of Callas, who dared to contradict the main figure of the EU. The French president even sarcastically asked: "Will you still be the prime minister tomorrow?".
The publication notes that this case became a landmark for Callas' political career and cemented her reputation as one of the fiercest critics of Russia in European politics. Now heading the EU's foreign policy office, Callas faces concerns that her focus on confronting the Kremlin could limit her diplomatic outreach in other areas.
