'Right person': Russia hawk Kallas at head of EU diplomacy

As former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas takes the reins as the EU's top diplomat Sunday, hopes are high she could be just the right woman, in the right place, at the right time.

With Ukraine's fate and the threat from Russia expected to dominate the agenda for years, EU leaders turned to someone who understands the menace from the Kremlin only too well.

Coming from one of the small Baltic states once dominated by Moscow, Kallas has been a stalwart supporter of Kyiv in what she sees as an existential struggle not just for Ukraine, but Europe as a whole.

And she herself has plenty of bitter personal history with Russia.

As Estonia's premier she was placed on Moscow's wanted list this year -- that came 75 years after her mother was deported to Siberia by Soviet authorities as a baby.

"There is her background, her experience, the fact that she was born in the Soviet Union, the fact that her family suffered, and her country shares a very painful history with Russia," said Maria Martisiute, an analyst at the European Policy Centre think tank.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen touted Kallas Wednesday as simply "the right person at the right time for Europe's diplomacy."

But the 47-year-old ex-lawyer will need more than just her Russia expertise to perform well in one of the European Union's toughest posts.

As Donald Trump returns to power in the United States, she is coming to office at a moment fraught with uncertainty.
And the job of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs has often been seen as thankless -- trying to coordinate the sometimes radically opposed positions of 27 countries, each jealously guarding their own foreign policy.

"The world is on fire, so we have to stick together," Kallas told EU lawmakers at her confirmation hearing this month.

'Fresh energy'

Kallas's predecessor Josep Borrell cut an increasingly exasperated figure as he failed to get the EU to take a tougher line on Israel over the war in Gaza.

The 77-year-old Spaniard has frequently angered European capitals by going beyond their agreed positions.
"At the top of the EU diplomacy, we need a diplomat," a high-ranking European diplomat told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Kallas is coming in with a fresh energy. Politically, she's very savvy and knows where the solutions can be found."
Critics have griped that Kallas might be too focused on the threat from Russia and neglect other crises around the globe -- something she's tried to overcome while prepping for the post.

"She's been reaching out left and right," said the EU diplomat.

"She's weary about being seen as a one-topic woman."

As Kallas' mandate kicks off, the situation for Ukraine is looking bleak.

Questions are swirling over the future of US support under Trump and Kyiv's fatigued forces are losing ground on the frontline.

A major part of her job will be building bridges with the new administration in Washington, and fast -- especially as Trump has vowed to put a quick end to the war.

Appeal to Trump?

Golf-loving Kallas -- a fierce supporter of NATO and Europe's transatlantic bond -- ramped up Estonia's defence spending and could use that as a way to appeal to the new US team.

"Kallas will likely align with Trump's calls for increased European defence spending and greater self-reliance in security, a narrative that could help her establish connections," analyst Daniel Hegedus of the German Marshall fund said.
"However, whether Trump would view a High Representative from Estonia as strong and influential enough to sway heavyweight EU member states remains uncertain."

It's not just across the Atlantic that doubts could increase about backing Kyiv.

After three years of unprecedented support there are growing cracks in the EU -- and those could only grow if US backing weakens.

Kallas will have a central role in trying to keep Europe on board -- and make sure Ukraine isn't pushed into a bad deal.
She will also be focused on ensuring the bloc doesn't waver on its pledges to build up its own defences.

"European politics is nearing a point where some national elites appear willing to sacrifice the EU's long-term collective security interests for short-term political gains," Hegedus said.

"Having someone like Kallas in the role of high representative offers a promising opportunity to mitigate the damage that might otherwise occur."