Vensi Welcomed with Boos: Kallas's Comment

European diplomacy chief Kaia Kallas has commented on the boos directed at U.S. Vice President Jay D. Vensi, describing them as a manifestation of "European pride." Her remarks were reported by Politico.

Kallas noted that recently, there have been unpleasant statements from the United States towards Europe, against which the European public's reaction, in her assessment, expressed a sense of dignity. She emphasized that this sentiment was also noticeable in the stadium.

The incident occurred during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, held at Milan's San Siro stadium. During the American delegation's entrance, large screens displayed Jay D. Vensi and his wife, prompting some members of the audience to respond with boos and negative shouts.

Additionally, it was noted that earlier, the White House had released the new national security strategy of the United States, which states that Europe should bear greater responsibility for its own defense. The document also records that Washington has disagreements with European officials regarding Ukraine. In this context, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the strategy is aimed at demonstrating the EU's position and preventing Washington's involvement in what he termed European initiatives.