BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union’s head of foreign policy said on Monday that, given the large military build – up of Russian troops near Ukraine’s borders, it would only take a ‘spark’ to tackle a confrontation.
In a bad review of relations with Moscow, Josep Borrell also said that the condition of the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was ‘critical’ and that the group of 27 countries would hold the Kremlin responsible for its health and safety.
Despite the developments, Borrell said after a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers that “for the time being no movement in the field of more sanctions” can be instituted against Russia.
He also said that there was no request for a synchronized EU diplomatic move of expulsions between the Czech Republic, an EU member state, and Russia after the accusation by Prague that Moscow was involved in an explosion of ammunition in 2014.
Borrell said at the time more dangerous the amalgamation of Russian troops, including military field hospitals, and ‘all sorts of warfare’.
‘This is the highest military deployment of the Russian army on the Ukrainian borders ever. “Obviously, it’s worrying when you deploy a lot of troops,” Borrell said. “Well, a spark can jump here or there.”
Initially, Borrell told reporters that “there are more than 150,000 Russian troops on the Ukrainian border and in Crimea,” and the figure later doubled before his services had to correct it in the transcript, saying the actual figure was more than 100,000.
Nevertheless, Borrell said that “the risk of further escalation – that’s clear.”
Borrell did not want to say where he got the initial 150,000 Russian troop number from, but called it ‘my reference number’. That was higher than the estimate of 110,000 provided by Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran on Wednesday.
More than 14,000 people have been killed in seven years of fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that erupted after Russia’s 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula. The EU steadfastly opposed the annexation, but could do nothing about it.
Attempts to reach a political settlement have stalled and violations of a shaky ceasefire have become more frequent in recent weeks in the eastern industrial area of Ukraine, known as the Donbas.
Diplomats expected that there would be little or no chance of immediate new sanctions against Moscow, but they will now try to exert more and more pressure through diplomacy.
“Moscow must move from provocation to co-operation,” said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
And over the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron said that while dialogue with Russia was essential, “clear red lines” with possible sanctions should also be drawn with Moscow over Ukraine.
“Overall, relations with Russia are not improving, but on the contrary, tensions are rising in various areas,” Borrell said.
“We call on Russia to withdraw its troops,” Borrell said.