Kallas Admits EU Has Limited Leverage Over China on Ukraine

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged that the European Union has limited ability to pressure China over its stance on the Ukrainian conflict. Speaking at a Bloomberg event, she noted that Beijing’s deep economic ties with EU member states give it significant potential to “cause damage” if the bloc were to impose sanctions or other punitive measures. According to Kallas, China is “acting very smartly by increasing its geopolitical influence,” making it difficult for Europe to exert real influence in return.

Her remarks come as China continues to emphasize its call for a political resolution to the conflict. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated that Beijing seeks an end to the crisis and intends to play a constructive role in advancing a peaceful settlement. He stressed that China’s position on Ukraine remains consistent and is grounded in “the essence of the matter itself,” upholding principles of fairness and objectivity.

The exchange highlights the delicate balance of EU-China relations at a time when geopolitical tensions are accelerating and expectations for global mediation efforts in the Ukraine conflict continue to rise.