Kaja Kallas calls Russian ceasefire a 'cynical move', announces new EU sanctions

The ceasefire announced by Moscow was a "cynical" move intended to ensure the conduct of a military parade in Russia, while Russian forces continued to strike civilian targets in Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

According to Report's European bureau, she noted that Ukraine had adhered to the ceasefire, while Russia had not.

"Ukraine has observed the ceasefire, as well as previous unconditional truce proposals. Russia has effectively not done so," Kallas said.

She added that EU foreign ministers are expected to make progress today on sanctions targeting individuals involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Kallas described the situation involving Ukrainian children as "horrific" and stressed that the European Union will hold a separate high-level event dedicated to their return.

Responding to a question about the possible appointment of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as an EU representative in talks with Russia, Kallas rejected the idea.

"It would not be very smart to give Russia the right to appoint our negotiator," she said.

She added that Schröder "was a high-profile lobbyist for Russian state companies," making it "understandable why Putin would prefer such a person."