Putin’s potential G20 comeback risks normalizing Russian war crimes, says Kallas

The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has expressed concerns about Vladimir Putin's potential return to the G20 summit, warning that it risks normalizing Russian war crimes. This statement comes as the EU faces internal challenges with budget negotiations that have paralyzed Brussels on key issues like AI chips, Arctic policies, and agricultural funding.

Kallas also rebuffed reported calls from the Pentagon for allies to tone down their criticism of the Kremlin, maintaining a firm stance against Russia's actions. The EU budget battle for the 2028-2034 period has reached a negotiating impasse, blocking progress on several important proposals.

Budget Impasse

European policymakers remain deadlocked over the size of the next EU budget, which has stalled decisions on critical initiatives including artificial intelligence chips development, Arctic strategies, and agricultural programs.