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21:14 GMT
BRUSSELS, July 15 (KUNA) -- European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday said the United States should "share the burden" of arming Ukraine, following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that Europe should buy American weapons for Kyiv.
"If you promise to give the weapons but say that it's somebody else who is going to pay for it, it is not really given by you," Kallas said at a press briefing following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Kallas expressed disappointment over the failure to approve the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, saying, "the European Union did not approve the 18th Russia sanctions package today," but she voiced optimism that a deal could be reached on Wednesday.
"I'm really sad the sanctions did not get approved, but hopeful a deal will be reached.
The ball is in Slovakia's court," she said.
Kallas stressed that sanctions are "necessary to starve Russia of the means to wage this war," affirming, "the EU will keep implementing them."
Slovakia has been blocking the latest EU sanctions package until its concerns are addressed regarding a separate EU proposal to phase out imports of Russian gas by January 1, 2028.
Bratislava has requested a review of that proposal before backing the new sanctions package. (end)
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