The EU has made a call on Monday to calm and alarmism.
The news that come from the Russian borders are worrisome, the trips of troops are maintained and the rhetoric of Moscow does not invite optimism, but the situation is delicate enough to raise the temperature.
In this context, and after meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the 27, and to listen by videoconference to the US Secretary of State, the High Representative for EU’s foreign policy, Josep Borrell has assured that “there is nothing new that
It can increase the feeling of fear on an imminent attack of Russia “in Ukraine.
Fear is real, the obvious danger, no accelerators or errors are needed.
The meeting of the Ministers took only a few hours before the teleconference organized by the North American President Joe Biden, with the prime ministers of France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, in which the President of the Commission was also invited
European, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
“You have to avoid a nervous crisis,” has said Spanish, trying to contain emotions, but explaining that the 27 have been and will continue to be consulted by Washington in the face of the written response that Moscow expects, after the recent meeting between Blinken himself.
and his Russian counterpart Labrov in Geneva.
Borrell has also explained that the EU does not intend to evacuate its embassies and has nuanced that the US, despite known information, nor has it done.
Not quite.
“Blinken has told us that it has not been an evacuation, simply allowing, giving freedom to non-essential personnel, so that they decide to leave if they want. After the exchange and sharing information, I do not think there is a need for preventive measures. I do not say that none in
General, but about our permanent staff in Ukraine, “said the High Representative.
Some country could do it, but at the individual initiative.
The calm petition by the Union (the Commission said yesterday a financial assistance package of 1,200 million euros yesterday) is complemented by the taking of positions, literally, of NATO.
The organization is increasing the number of boats, aircraft and soldiers at the interior borders of the Alliance to “strengthen dissuasion and defense”.
At light years of Russia, which has more than 127,000 soldiers after three months of constant movements, but at strategic points.
Thus, in “state of alert”, the BLAS FRAGATE of Lezo and the Meteor Cazamines sent by Spain a week before the foreseen;
Dutch F-35 aircraft that will go to Bulgaria in spring.
French troops in Romania or Danish F-15 fighters and other frigate waiting in Lithuania and the Baltic Sea.
“We welcome the allies that provide additional forces to NATO, we will continue taking all the necessary measures to protect and defend all allies, reinforcing the eastern part. We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, by strengthening
Our collective defense if necessary, “said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who met with the Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Finland, increasingly stronger candidates to ask for their income.
The cast is clear.
The Alliance makes military movements, the EU asks again and again that it is allowed to work on diplomacy while preparing sanctions and heads of state press, asking for common sense but warning that those “massive sanctions” would destroy the Russian economy in case
of aggression
Next week, a delegation of MEPs plans to go to Kiev to show his solidarity and Borrell has confirmed that the possibility that the 27 Foreign Ministers of the EU celebrate a meeting there is on the table.
“Why not? There’s nothing decided but it’s not impossible, if there is unanimity why not in Kiev if the situation is aggravated and there is a need to show collective solidarity,” he explained.
From Brussels, unusual thing, no concrete details come on what the reaction would be in case of aggression.
Germany, very criticized in the last days by its ambiguity, its caution and decisions that have surprised its partners and allies not to anger Kremlin, is the one who is most clearly saying that we do not have to go from braking, because there will be consequences.
But the rest ensures, looking for credibility, that the punishment package is practically ready, would be immediate and effective.
“Part of the dissuasion is not to give information,” Borrell has reiterated on the reluctance to give details.
A European diplomat compared these days the list of replicas, which is avoided even in writing to avoid leaks, with a táper in the freezer: “The food is ready, when we want you to decide whether to let out only or try to bite when it is
Still cold “, depending on the urgency.
