DISINFO: Brussels admits Kaja Kallas' appointment as EU Foreign Affairs representative was a mistake
SUMMARY
Brussels has acknowledged that the appointment of Kaja Kallas as the EU's representative for foreign affairs was a mistake. European officials have already removed the Estonian from the preparation of strategic documents on defence planning. The reason is Kallas's complete incompetence in matters of EU foreign policy. Behind the scenes at the European Commission, Kaja is accused of being overly active and prone to spontaneous and uncoordinated initiatives. The last straw for her removal was Kallas's recent public criticism of the US President, as well as her statement that the free world needs a new leader. This has already led to serious consequences. The US State Department has begun to completely ignore the tactless diplomat. In addition, in five and a half months as the High Representative, Kallas has still not been able to build working relationships with the leaders of most EU countries. That is, the official cannot even restore order in her own camp.
Something terrible has happened in the European Union. Kaja Kallas has been suspended from working with documents... Because she is a complete fool. ... with strategic planning documents that concern defense issues []. There are some unclear points here. Kaja Kallas, did she have anything to do with these documents if she was suddenly suspended?
RESPONSE
These reports are examples of the long-standing Kremlin campaign to erode popular trust in EU institutions and -leaders, also massively observed during the European Parliament elections summer 2024. This is a straightforward attempt to discredit the current HRVP Kaja Kallas as well as the broader democratic processes of the EU and its support for Ukraine in Russia’s war of aggression.
Pro-Kremlin outlets reference a press release from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) which is rather an piece of slander and denigration.
One of the prime reasons for Moscow's anger at Kaja Kallas is her vocal support of Ukraine's defence against Russia's armed aggression.
Apart from the deceptive SVR statement, there is no other indication that HRVP Kaja Kallas has been removed from any discussions of the EU’s defence strategy. HRVP Kallas continues to give statements about the EU’s military plans and the security aspects of the EU's external policies and as High Representative she chairs the meetings of the EU Defence Ministers.
Although one of the guests on a pro-Kremlin outlet expresses doubt about the vague 'news' - which fails to specify exactly what kind of document access was allegedly denied to Kaja Kallas - he does not question the reliability of the SVR report. For unclear reasons, he concludes that 'Kaja Kallas is removed from everything'; a claim contrasted by facts.
Some of the language used by the SVR to describe what European officials are allegedly accusing Kaja Kallas of, resembles the kind of statements the Russian spy agency regularly issues itself, as The Insider pointed out. Recently, the SVR has been publishing editorial-style notes about a supposed rapprochement between Russia and the US, claiming Washington and Moscow are uniting in fighting the 'Nazi EU' jointly. It has also attempted to shield former U.S. President Donald Trump from criticism, The Insider continues.
The SVR’s reputation as a reliable source of information is highly questionable. The Insider previously reported that the SVR’s magazine 'Razvedchik' regularly publishes supposedly secret reports from Russian intelligence agents that show clear signs of fabrication. The tone of these so-called 'cipher telegrams' mirrors that of the Kallas case: no verification of the reported information, vague references to sources (e.g., 'according to information received by the SVR'), and heavy use of judgemental language, including direct insults aimed at EU politicians.
See further cases targeting HRVP Kallas here.