The European Union and the United States have reaffirmed their “support to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and emphasised the need for Russia to de-escalate and fully implement the Minsk agreements.”
They have stressed that any further military attacks on Ukraine by Russian forces would bring “massive consequences and severe cost”.
Their positions were expressed in a call on Dec. 22 between US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission (HR/VP) Josep Borrell.
The two officials noted the communication conveyed by the Russian Federation last week relating to Russia’s thinking about new security arrangements in the European neighbourhood.
The EU and the U.S. also assured each other of continuing their existing cooperation, and their enduring close partnership in facing up to common security challenges and in ensuring Transatlantic security.
They reiterated the preferred use of diplomatic and international organisations, such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as a means for seeking solutions to current challenges, and they agreed that any discussions about security in Europe would happen with the participation of and in coordination with the European Union.
In a separate statement on the same day, Borrell expressed concern about Russia’s actions “in particular the illegal annexation of Crimea, its role in fuelling the conflict in eastern Ukraine”, in Georgia, in Moldova, in Belarus and in the recent build-up of Russian forces near Ukraine, stoking up fears of further invasion.
The EU official underlined that the EU together with partners would respond firmly to any further breaches of Ukraine's sovereignty.
Stressing that the EU believes that “dialogue, negotiation and cooperation” are the best paths to peace, Borrell said that Europe must build up the pillars of the European security architecture and strengthen UN and OSCE obligations and commitment to a secure Europe in ways that are inclusive and provide for the interests of all parties.
