Journalist McDonald questioned Callas' ability to negotiate with Russia

Irish journalist Brian McDonald said that the idea of appointing the head of European diplomacy, Kaya Callas, as a negotiator with Russia raises doubts and questions.

"They (in Russia — Ed.) see her as a diplomat who does not know how to conduct diplomacy. Does even a person with anti—Russian sentiments really understand that the task of a negotiator is to negotiate, and not just publicly provoke the other side?" he wrote on his page on the social network X (ex. Twitter).

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The Politico newspaper wrote on May 18 that the head of Callas would not be able to mediate in possible contacts with the Russian Federation — she actually excluded herself from the list of candidates because of her anti-Russian position. According to the newspaper, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, as well as former head of the European Central Bank and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi are now among the possible candidates.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 17 that it was in Callas' interests not to act as a negotiator with the Russian side. Peskov added that she "won't have it easy" in such a position.