EU HRVP Blog: With tensions rising at our eastern borders, unity remains our strength

Excerpt

All of last week, our work on the European security situation and Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine continued, with EU Foreign Ministers meeting and the US and NATO sending their written responses to Russia’s “draft treaties”. We will stick to our twin tracks of diplomacy and deterrence and expand our support to Ukraine.

The crisis with Russia and Ukraine remains at the centre of today’s geopolitical tensions. Russia’s military build-up at the Ukrainian border has increased further and now includes preparations for military drills in Belarus, to be conducted just 18 km from the Ukrainian border. Moscow has also announced naval drills involving its fleets – including for instance in the North-Atlantic in front of the Irish coast- as well as military exercises inside Russia.

On our side, EU Foreign ministers met last Monday and formalised our decisions taken in Brest: we reaffirmed our unity opposing Russia’s attempt to re-create dividing lines on our continent. These bring back memories of ‘spheres of influence’, which do not belong to the 21st century and are unacceptable. With Ministers, we agreed on the main elements that will guide our collective diplomatic efforts, to convince Russia to take the path of dialogue. 

Europe, as well as the United States, opt for peaceful and negotiated solutions and invite Russia to follow that path rather than armed aggression. We prefer diplomacy and are prepared to move forward, if Russia de-escalates its aggression toward Ukraine and approaches discussions about security in Europe in a balanced and reciprocal way.

Full article in English: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/china/110293/tensions-rising-our-eastern-borders-unity-remains-our-strength_en