The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell this Sunday guaranteed the existence of a “Russia problem” and defended the need to continue to deepen security cooperation with “key partners” such as the United States.
“The message is very clear: we are facing a ‘Russian problem’ and this represents a serious challenge,” Borrell said during a speech at this weekend’s Munich Security Conference.
Borrell added that the military effort “should be important in cooperation with key partners such as the United States” but needed to “consider different scenarios” without ruling out greater Washington involvement in securing the European continent.
“We must prepare for a long period of tension in relations with Russia, which could be preparing a long-term confrontation with NATO countries,” the head of European diplomacy added.
In this sense, he explained that European security requires the continuation and faster allocation of economic and military assistance to Ukraine.
“We must define our security obligations towards Ukraine and look to the future, because after Ukraine joins the EU, Europe will be different,” he said.
The situation in Ukraine, where Russia yesterday scored one of its biggest victories since last spring, “requires that we work together, faster and better” and be “much more flexible and direct,” the high official added.
“We must be able to finance, change procedures […] In three months everything will be decided on the battlefield, and we cannot wait any longer,” he emphasized.