Kallas and Trump Agree: Arms and Sanctions Quickest Way to End War in Ukraine

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, called for speeding up the supply of arms to Ukraine and imposing stricter sanctions on Russia, considering it the "quickest way to end the war".

This came in a post on her "X" platform, where she emphasized that "urgently delivering air defense systems to Ukraine is our priority", describing Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities as "abhorrent acts aimed at killing civilians".

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump described the recent Russian attacks, which resulted in the deaths of at least 16 civilians, as "disgusting", reaffirming his intention to impose new sanctions on Moscow. Trump told reporters: "I think what they are doing is disgusting... We will impose sanctions. I don't know if the sanctions bother him (Russian President Vladimir Putin), but we will impose them".

Trump also announced that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will head to Russia after completing his mission in the Middle East, in a step that could open a new channel of communication with the Kremlin. It is worth noting that Witkoff has met Putin several times before.

Trump had given Russia until August 8 to stop fighting in Ukraine, threatening to impose severe economic sanctions if they did not comply. The White House is also considering imposing "secondary sanctions" targeting countries that buy Russian oil, in an attempt to "dry up the main source of funding for the Russian war machine".

This is despite Trump, upon returning to office in January, expressing willingness to negotiate with Putin and criticizing the massive military aid provided by the Joe Biden administration to Ukraine. However, he later expressed "disappointment" in Putin for refusing to cease fire as demanded by Kyiv and Washington.