'Dynamics of war changing' in Ukraine's favour: EU top diplomat

"Moscow's record battlefield losses, Ukraine deep strikes into Russia, and Moscow's shrinking military parade, these things all show that the dynamics of the war are changing," Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

"Ukraine is in a much better position than a year ago," she said. "But of course, there is no time for complacency."

Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend suggested that the war in Ukraine was "heading to an end" after more than four years of bloodshed.

"We were analysing also, what do these messages by Putin mean -- because it's different than he has said before," Kallas said.

"I think the overall understanding is that Putin is in a weaker position than he has ever been before."

The EU's top diplomat and several ministers from around the bloc had earlier poured cold water on Putin's proposal for ex-German leader Gerhard Schroeder to mediate with Europe on the war in Ukraine.

"Schroeder has been a high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies. So it's clear why Putin wants him to be the person so that actually, you know, he would be sitting on both sides of the table," she said.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said in Brussels that he wanted Europe to play a bigger role in negotiations, but said any moves should be complementary to stalled US efforts.

Sybiha said Europe could help negotiate with Russia on specific issues, with EU diplomats saying he used a possible moratorium on attacks on airports as a potential example.

Kallas said that EU foreign ministers would discuss the bloc's "red lines" at a meeting later in May for any talks it could hold with Russia.

She has previously said that Europe should demand Moscow makes a string of concessions towards ending the conflict.