Europe is going through the “most dangerous moment” for its security since the end of the Cold War, even if a “diplomatic solution” with Russia remains “possible”, European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday. in Washington.
Asked about US warnings of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, he expressed “strong concern” about the threat.
“We are certainly living, in my opinion, the most dangerous moment for security in Europe since the end of the Cold War,” he said. “No one is massing 140,000 heavily armed troops on a country’s border” without it “representing a strong threat”, he said, giving an estimate of the Russian deployment at the gates of Ukraine higher than the 110,000 men mentioned in recent days by American officials.
“The 140,000 soldiers massed at the border, they are not there to have tea! exclaimed Josep Borrell.
Alongside him, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied any “alarmism” in Washington’s warnings. “It’s not alarmism, it’s just the facts,” he said at a joint press conference.
Americans and Europeans accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of planning a possible invasion of Ukraine, and threaten Russia with massive economic sanctions if he does.
The 140,000 soldiers massed at the border, they are not there to have tea!
“We don’t think Mr. Putin has made up his mind, but he has put in place the means, should he decide to do so, to act very quickly against Ukraine in a way that would have terrible consequences for Ukraine, Russia and for all of us,” said the head of American diplomacy.
The two men, however, affirmed that diplomacy was still at work. “We believe that a diplomatic solution to this crisis is still possible,” summed up Josep Borrell. “We hope for the best, but we prepare for the worst. »