EU’s Kallas criticises Putin’s ‘very cynical’ Ukraine ceasefire calls and rejects suggestion of Schröder as mediator – Europe live

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna have criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Both officials rejected Putin's suggestion that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder could act as a mediator for peace talks between Russia and the EU. Tsahkna specifically stated that Schröder is a "Putin idea" and would not represent Europe, highlighting their close relationship. This occurred as EU officials gathered for a meeting in Brussels, where the ongoing conflict and potential diplomatic avenues were discussed. The EU's stance indicates a lack of trust in Schröder's impartiality as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict.