site.btaEU Foreign Policy Chief Caps Size of Russian Diplomatic Representatives in Brussels

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, announced on Monday that she had decided to limit the maximum size of Russia's diplomatic mission in the EU to 40 people.

"We will not tolerate abuse of diplomatic power," she told a news conference after Monday's meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. "Together with the [European] Commission we are working to keep hundreds of thousands of former Russian soldiers out of the Schengen Area. We do not want war criminals and saboteurs to roam our streets," she added.

Kallas said that the foreign ministers failed to approve the extension of sanctions against Russia. Earlier in the day, Hungary warned that it would block the decision due to a dispute with Ukraine over the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline. The High Representative added that work is continuing on the proposal to impose new sanctions against the Russian Federation.

"I really regret that we didn't achieve agreement today considering that tomorrow is the sad anniversary of the start of this war, and we really need to send strong signals to Ukraine that we keep on helping Ukraine but also putting more pressure on Russia so that this war would stop. We know that there are elections coming in Hungary, but it's very hard for me to see considering and knowing the history of Hungary that people of Hungary would not helping the people of Ukraine that are in need," Kallas said. "So I find it very hard to believe that it would bring you any bonus points in the elections," she added.

Kallas added that ministers also discussed attempts at external interference in the EU and the spread of disinformation by Russia.