Borrell vows EU's 'full support' for Ukraine
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During his visit to Kiev, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell pledges that "any military aggression against Ukraine will have messy consequences and severe costs."
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Josep Borrell during his visit to the village of Stanytsya Luganska in the eastern Lugansk region
During his visit to Kiev, and ahead of upcoming US-Russia negotiations on Ukraine, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell reaffirmed the EU's full support for Ukraine.
The United States and Russia will hold bilateral talks for two days to discuss Moscow's security proposals this coming Sunday.
"We are here first to reaffirm European Union's full support to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Borrell told a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
"Any military aggression against Ukraine will have messy consequences and severe costs," he said in the village of Stanytsya Luganska in the eastern Lugansk region.
Furthermore, the EU Foreign Policy Chief assured coordinating with the US, NATO, and “other like-minded partners in order to work for de-escalation."
On his account, Kuleba said Ukraine and the European Union had a common goal, which is "to de-escalate the situation through diplomatic means so Moscow reduces tensions and abandons its aggressive intentions".
Borrell's visit is considered the first by an EU foreign policy chief to eastern Ukraine since war broke out nearly eight years ago.
Borrell added the timing was right because "the geopolitical landscape is changing very quickly and the conflict on the borders of Ukraine is on the verge of getting deeper."
Washington and its allies have repeatedly accused Russia of plotting an invasion, which the latter always denied but stressed its right to defend it security.
After the Kremlin presented a draft of proposals to Washington, high-ranking officials from the US and Russia are expected to meet in Geneva for two days of discussions on the crisis beginning Sunday.
"There is no security in Europe without security of Ukraine. And it is clear that any discussion on European security must involve the EU and Ukraine," Borrell stressed on Wednesday.
“US will 'respond decisively' if Russia invades Ukraine”
According to a White House statement, US President Joe Biden assured his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday that Washington "will respond decisively" if Russia moves to invade its pro-Western neighbor.
With an alleged Russian military buildup on Ukraine's borders, Biden "made clear" to Zelensky during a phone call that the "United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
US declined Russia’s security proposals
On December 17, Russia presented draft documents detailing its security arrangements for negotiation with the US and NATO regarding de-escalation in Ukraine.
However, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Washington will decline Russia's draft documents, TASS reported.
Here's what you need to know
It is worth mentioning that relations between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), led by the United States, have recently been tense due to the latter's increased military buildup near the Russian borders under the pretext of protecting Ukraine from a “potential Russian threat,” which Moscow considers a “violation of the basic document of ties between the two sides."
The Kremlin rejected accusations made by Western countries about its intention to take military action against Ukraine, saying that "Russia is threatened by NATO, which is arming Kiev and intensifying its deployment of aircraft and ships in the Black Sea region."
