BRUSSELS 鈥� The European Union's foreign policy chief said Monday that in the face of the big military buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine's borders, it will only take 鈥渁 spark鈥� to set off a confrontation.
In a glum assessment of relations with Moscow, Josep Borrell also said that the condition of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was 鈥渃ritical鈥� and that the 27-nation group would hold the Kremlin accountable for his health and safety.
Despite the developments, Borrell said after a virtual meeting of the EU foreign ministers that, 鈥渇or the time being, there is no move in the field of more sanctions鈥� to be imposed on Russia.
He also said there wasn't a request for a synchronized EU diplomatic move of expulsions in the standoff between Czech Republic, an EU member state, and Russia following Prague's accusation that Moscow was involved in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion.
More dangerous at this time, Borrell said, was the massing of Russian troops, including military field hospitals, and 鈥渁ll kinds of warfare.鈥�
鈥淚t is the highest military deployment of the Russian army on the Ukrainian borders ever. It鈥檚 clear that it鈥檚 a matter of concern when you deploy a lot of troops," Borrell said. 鈥淲ell, a spark can jump here or there.鈥�
Initially, Borrell told reporters that 鈥渢here鈥檚 more than 150,000 Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian borders and in Crimea," and doubled down on the figure later before his services had to correct it in the transcript, saying the real figure was over 100,000.
Nevertheless, Borrell said that "the risk of further escalation 鈥� it鈥檚 evident.鈥�
Borrell declined to say where he got the initial 150,000 Russian troop number from, but called it 鈥渕y reference figure.鈥� It was higher than the 110,000 estimate provided by Ukrainian
More than 14,000 people have died in seven years of fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that erupted after Russia鈥檚 2014 annexation of Ukraine鈥檚 Crimean Peninsula. The EU has steadfastly opposed the annexation but has been unable to do anything about it.
Efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled and violations of a shaky truce have become increasingly frequent in recent weeks across Ukraine鈥檚 eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas.
Diplomats had expected there was little to no chance of immediate new sanctions on Moscow, but they now will seek to apply more pressure nevertheless through diplomacy.
鈥淢oscow must switch from provocation to
And over the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron said that while dialogue with Russia is essential, 鈥渃lear red lines鈥� carrying possible sanctions must also be drawn with Moscow over Ukraine.
鈥淎ll in all, the relations with Russia, are not improving, but the contrary, the tension is increasing in different fronts,鈥� Borrell said.
鈥淲e call on Russia to withdraw their troops,鈥� Borrell said.
Raf Casert, The Associated Press
