Kaja Kallas calls for more women participating in diplomacy

Written by journalist Danylo Aleksandrov

Kaja Kallas, who is EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as well as Vice-President of the European Commission has called for a stronger presence of women in international diplomacy, arguing that their involvement leads to more durable peace.

Speaking in Tallinn, Kallas criticised the dominance of men in negotiation teams, saying this imbalance often results in short-term solutions rather than lasting stability. She linked this tendency to the lack of female participation, noting that research shows peace agreements tend to last longer when women are involved in negotiations.

She pointed to recent high-level talks between major powers as an example, describing them as overwhelmingly male-dominated and lacking diverse perspectives. In her view, including more women would improve both the quality and sustainability of diplomatic outcomes.

Her remarks come at a time when European policymakers are debating whether the EU should play a direct role in potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine—and, if so, who should represent the bloc. Some proposals, such as the one which recently came from Putin regarding appointing former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, have already been dismissed, leaving the question unresolved.

Kallas pointed to scientific data to support her argument. According to research, women made up only about 16% of negotiators in UN-led or co-led peace processes in recent years. Despite evidence from institutions like the United Nations that female participation strengthens conflict resolution, women remain underrepresented in most diplomatic efforts.