'Russophobic' EU top job decisions 'bad' for ties with Russia, Kremlin says

EU leaders have nominated Ursula von der Leyen to remain as European Commission president and chosen Kaja Kallas as the next EU foreign policy chief.

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00:00EU-Russia relations could suffer because of top job appointments in the bloc, according

00:06to a Kremlin spokesperson.

00:09Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said the outlook for EU-Russia relations was negative

00:15going forward after top jobs were carved up, with Ursula von der Leyen and Kaya Kalas taking

00:21leading roles.

00:22Ms. Kalas has not shown any diplomatic inclinations and is well known for her intolerant and sometimes

00:36even blasphemous statements.

00:39So we don't think that European diplomacy will work in any way to normalise relations.

00:49Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kalas has been a driving

00:55force within the EU to punish Russia with sanctions.

01:00The strength of her anti-Russia stance had sparked speculation as to whether she would

01:05end up in the top diplomatic role for fear of provoking Moscow.