EU to discuss potential negotiations with Russia in Cyprus summit – Kallas

"We should discuss amongst ourselves what we want to talk to [the Russians - ed.] about,” Kallas said.

“That is why we have Gymnich meeting coming with the Foreign Ministers, where we will discuss the proposals that are put on the table to address the issues that we have.”

She added that the issue of European security lies in the fact that Russia is constantly attacking its neighbors. Europe also “needs concessions from the Russian side,” Kallas continued.

“There are Russian troops [in Moldova],” the diplomat explained.

“For example, that could be also one of the conditions to have stability and security in the region, that they take their troops away.”

Kallas earlier rejected Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s proposal to appoint Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as the EU’s negotiator in Moscow. She described Schröder as a high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies.

On May 9, Putin claimed that former Chancellor Schröder would be a suitable choice to represent the EU in talks with Russia.