European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Defense Policy Josep Borrell on Wednesday called on European governments to speed up the dispatch of military aid to Ukraine, taking into account the “worrying” evolution of Russian troops on Ukrainian soil .
“The military situation on the ground is extremely worrying. There are more than 360,000 Russian troops, double the number of troops before the war,” Borrell said, emphasizing that “the Russian counter-offensive has begun, albeit on a small scale, and for the the first time Ukraine does not have the advantage of having a larger number of troops on the ground”.
Speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg, Borrell made no secret of his critical tone, saying that “too much time” was spent discussing “the delivery or not of the famous [tanques] Leopard and meanwhile Russia is preparing the offensive”.
“We spent too much time discussing decisions that should have come sooner,” he complained, stressing that “time is crucial and time is measured in lifetimes.”
Borrell noted that European aid to Ukraine in support of financial assistance, the humanitarian package and the financing of all institutional functioning “will exceed €60 billion” by 2023, Borrell defended that support in the military field should be strengthened.
“To achieve peace, we must continue to support Ukraine militarily more than we have done so far,” the head of diplomacy defended, promising “at the same time” to enter the diplomatic field, without “naive” illusions.
“It is extremely naive to call for an end to military aid to Ukraine, to shorten the war and bring peace sooner, and I say naive for lack of a stronger word.”he said, noting that “both things can be done”.
“If we stop supporting Ukraine militarily, the peace we will achieve will not be peace. It will be a victory for Russia, which would be an extraordinary threat to our security for us.”Borrell opined, appealing, as a message, that Europe must speed up aid in the military field.
“I appeal to all European countries who have modern and efficient tanks, which are gathering dust in their barracks and which are useless, to transfer them to Ukraine and hand them over as soon as possible, because the war will be decided spring and summer.”said the head of EU diplomacy.
Source: DN
