By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) – The EU's foreign policy chief has said hearing the US government's alleged pro-Russia narrative in recent weeks made her "uncomfortable."
In an interview with Axios published on Friday, Kaja Kallas expressed concern over President Donald Trump and senior officials distancing the US from Europe and aligning with "new friends."
"The statements made towards us are quite strong. The statements regarding Russia are very friendly. It is a change," she said.
Kallas highlighted Washington’s vote against the UN resolution condemning Russia for the Ukraine invasion. The US position went against its allies and coincided with traditional American rivals like North Korea, Belarus, and Russia.
She also argued that the Trump administration's engagement with Russia is giving it international legitimacy.
“Russia wants to be back around the international table like nothing has happened. If we allow that to happen, then we will see more wars, not only in Europe,” she said.
When asked if she thinks Trump is working to divide the EU, Kallas responded: “His statements regarding Europe are very strong, and the question is, why are they so strong? I mean, where is it all coming from?”
Regarding the tariffs that Trump has threatened to levy against the bloc, she emphasized that the trade deficit between the US and the EU was only around 3% of all trade—far below what Trump claims.
On Tuesday, Kallas traveled to Washington to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Shortly after she arrived, he canceled the meeting planned for the next morning.
"You have to ask him (Rubio) why he canceled,” she said.
US President Donald Trump lambasted the EU on Wednesday and vowed to implement 25% tariffs on the 27-member bloc's exports "very soon."
The EU, Trump said, "was formed in order to screw the United States. That's the purpose of it, and they've done a good job of it. But now I'm president."