BRUSSELS (AP) – The head of the European Union’s foreign policy said on Monday that in the face of the large military deployment of Russian troops near Ukraine’s borders, only a “spark” would be needed to trigger a confrontation.
In a grim assessment of relations with Moscow, Josep Borrell also said that the condition of the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was imprisoned. he was also “critical” that the group of 27 nations would answer to the Kremlin for its health and safety.
Despite developments, Borrell said after a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers that “for the time being, there is no movement in the field of more sanctions” to be imposed on Russia.
He added that there had been no demand for a synchronized EU diplomatic movement of expulsions in the confrontation between the Czech Republic, an EU member state and Russia, following the accusation in Prague that Moscow had been involved in a 2014 explosion. of the ammunition depot.
More dangerous at this time, Borrell said, was the massaging of Russian troops, including military field hospitals and “all sorts of wars.”
“It is the largest military deployment of the Russian army on the Ukrainian borders ever. It’s clear it’s a matter of concern when you’re deploying a lot of troops, “Borrell said. “Well, a spark can jump here or there.”
Borrell initially told reporters that “there are more than 150,000 Russian soldiers gathering on the Ukrainian and Crimean borders” and later doubled down before his services were corrected in the transcript, saying the actual number exceeded 100,000.
However, Borrell said that “the risk of further escalation – is obvious.”
Borrell declined to say where he got the initial 150,000 Russian troops, but called him “my benchmark.” It was higher than the estimate of 110,000 offered on Wednesday by Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran.
More than 14,000 people have died in seven years of fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, which erupted after Russia’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia. The EU strongly opposed annexation, but could do nothing about it.
Efforts to reach a political settlement have come to a halt and violations of a shaky truce have become more frequent in recent weeks in the central industrial area of eastern Ukraine, known as the Donbas.
Diplomats had expected little or no chance of immediate sanctions on Moscow, but now they will try to apply more pressure through diplomacy.
“Moscow needs to move from challenge to cooperation,” 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” were to be drawn bearing possible sanctions on Ukraine over Moscow.
“All in all, relations with Russia are not improving, but on the contrary, tensions are rising on various fronts,” Borrell said.
“We call on Russia to withdraw its troops,” Borrell said.