Russia to prevail in Ukraine war if EU doesn't shift strategy: Borrell
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The EU's chief diplomat referred to Russia as a "great power" that allegedly poses a threat to European democracy
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European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell talks during the signing ceremony of the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement at the European Council building in Brussels, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023 (Johanna Geron, Pool photo via AP)
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned on Sunday that Russia would emerge victorious in the Ukraine conflict unless the EU alters its direction and mobilizes all its capabilities.
"And if we don't change course rapidly, if we don't mobilise all our capacities, it will let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin win the war in Ukraine," Borrell told The Guardian.
He further referred to Russia as a "great power" that allegedly poses a threat to European democracy.
"The important thing is what we can do in order to avoid Russia winning the war. What are we ready to do? Are we really ready to do everything it takes? This is the question that we have to put ourselves," Borrell was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
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Since the commencement of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries, including European Union member states, have been extending military and financial assistance to Kiev.
Despite consistent warnings from the Kremlin against ongoing arms deliveries to Kiev, citing the potential for escalated conflict, Western nations persisted in the transfer of aid to Ukraine.
In April 2022, Russia issued a diplomatic note to all NATO nations concerning the matter of arms supplies to Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned that any shipment containing weapons destined for Ukraine would be deemed a legitimate target for Russian military strikes.
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Ukraine was originally part of the Soviet Union's territories but was granted independence as a separate state in 1991 as Moscow aimed to gain approval from the West.
On December 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the war in Ukraine is a "civil war" between brothers and that Moscow entertains historical relations with Ukraine.
However, "after the coup d’etat of 2014, it became clear to us that we would no longer be allowed, by force, to build any sort of normal relations with Ukraine," Putin said.
On November 11, Borrell remarked that the European Union faces several challenges, notably the Ukraine conflict, noting that Russia's defeat in the near term is not anticipated.
