The European Union is losing its role as a global political and economic player; this is precisely the "civilizational abyss" about which it has long been warned – Shalva Papuashvili

The European Union’s foreign and security policy is increasingly showing signs of immaturity and inconsistency, writes Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on social media.

Shalva Papuashvili is responding to a statement by Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: "The US cannot negotiate on behalf of Europe regarding the lifting of sanctions imposed against Russia; only Europe can make such decisions." "By focusing on the US, Kaja Kallas overlooks a key fact: Ukraine is a party to the negotiations, and European security is, in essence, Ukraine’s security as well. What does this imply? Is Ukraine—which Ms. Kallas describes as the EU’s first line of defense—entrusted with defending EU territory with its own blood, yet deemed unfit to represent EU interests in negotiations? Furthermore, if Ukraine achieves peace on terms acceptable to it—conditions that might even involve EU sanctions—will the EU then scuttle that agreement? Given this rhetoric from the EU, it is clear that the entire issue boils down to a single question: does Ukraine have the right to end the war on its own terms? It is evident that the EU’s foreign and security policy is increasingly displaying signs of immaturity and inconsistency. Consequently, the EU is losing its standing as a global political and economic player; this is precisely the 'civilizational chasm' about which it has long been warned," writes... Shalva Papuashvili.