BRUSSELS (AP) – The chief of foreign policy of the European Union said on Monday that given the large military build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine’s borders, it only takes “a spark” to initiate a confrontation .
In a gloomy assessment of relations with Moscow, Josep Borrell also said that the condition of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was “critical” and that the group of 27 countries would hold the Kremlin responsible for its health and safety.
Despite the developments, Borrell said after a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers that “there is no move on more sanctions for the time being” to be imposed on Russia.
He also said there was no request for a synchronized EU diplomatic displacement of deportations in the standoff between the Czech Republic, an EU member state and Russia following Prague’s accusation that Moscow was involved in an explosion of an ammunition depot in 2014.
Even more dangerous at this point, Borrell said, was the accumulation of Russian forces, including military field hospitals, and “warfare of all kinds.”
“It is the highest military deployment of the Russian army on the Ukrainian borders ever. Obviously it is a concern if you deploy a lot of troops, ”said Borrell. “Well, a spark can jump here and there.”
Borrell initially told reporters that “more than 150,000 Russian troops are gathering on the Ukrainian borders and in Crimea,” and he later doubled the figure before his services had to correct it in the transcript, saying the actual number was more than Was 100,000.
Nevertheless, Borrell said that “the risk of further escalation is clear.”
Borrell declined to say where he got the original number of 150,000 Russian troops, calling it “my reference figure.” It was higher than Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran’s estimate of 110,000 on Wednesday.
More than 14,000 people died in seven years of fighting between Ukrainian armed forces and Russian-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine that broke out after the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014. The EU has steadfastly opposed the annexation, but has can’t do anything about it.
Efforts to negotiate a political settlement have stalled and violations of a shaky truce have become more common in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas in recent weeks.
Diplomats expected there was little or no chance of immediate new sanctions against Moscow, but they will now try to exert more pressure through diplomacy.
“Moscow must switch from provocation to cooperation,” said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
And over the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron said that while dialogue with Russia is essential, “clear red lines” with possible sanctions should also be drawn with Moscow over Ukraine.
“Overall, relations with Russia are not improving, but on the contrary, tension is increasing on several fronts,” said Borrell.
“We are calling on Russia to withdraw their troops,” said Borrell.