Federica Mogherini, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will visit Kyiv on Dec. 16-17 amid skepticism over her soft stance on sanctions against Russia in her previous role as Italy’s foreign minister.

In her new role, Mogherini must carry out the foreign policy of the 28-nation EU, but her cordial visits to Putin after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the start of the Kremin-backed separatist war against Ukraine, are upsetting to many Ukrainians and others in the West who view opposition to sanctions as appeasement of Putin.