European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has expressed both support and concern regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum to Russia. While she welcomed Trump’s firm stance, she criticized the 50-day deadline as excessively long, emphasizing the ongoing civilian casualties in Ukraine.

Trump announced that the U.S., in coordination with NATO, would supply Ukraine with advanced weapons systems, including Patriot air defense systems, with the financial burden shared among NATO allies. He warned that if Russia does not agree to a peace deal within 50 days, the U.S. would impose 100% tariffs on Russian goods and potentially on its trading partners.

Kallas acknowledged the positive aspect of the U.S. taking a strong position but highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “50 days is a very long time if we see that they are killing innocent civilians every day.” Other European leaders, including Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, echoed similar concerns about the length of the deadline, advocating for increased pressure on Russia through sanctions.

Ukrainian officials, such as Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, also criticized the 50-day timeframe, questioning the rationale behind giving Russia such an extended period. Meanwhile, Russian officials, including Dmitry Medvedev, dismissed Trump’s ultimatum as a “decorative” gesture, suggesting it would have little impact on Moscow’s actions.

B. J.