The European Union will strengthen its support for Ukraine, announced the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on Thursday 13 January in Brest.
Mr Borrell announced that the EU is preparing to send a mission to help Ukraine deal with cyber attacks. Furthermore, in response to a question from EUROPE, Mr Borrell confirmed that the EU is considering a training mission for the armed forces in the country.
“There is a proposal on the table for ministers to establish a high-level training mission for Ukrainian officials. It will not be basic training for soldiers, but for managers”, he explained, hoping for a decision soon (see EUROPE 12849/15). Mr Borrell added that the EU had sent a mission to the area to examine the feasibility and needs.
With the situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia still tense, Mr Borrell warned that there is no question of negotiating under pressure. He also sought to be reassuring about the involvement of Europeans in discussions on European security.
“We have been assured that nothing will be decided or even negotiated with the Russians without close coordination with Europe and the participation of the Europeans, and the coordination with the Americans is absolutely perfect”, he said, adding that there had been “more than 100 contacts at all levels” between the Europeans and the Americans.
Like NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg the day before (see EUROPE 12867/1), the High Representative rejected Russia’s demands that NATO formally accept that a number of countries, including Ukraine, can never be members of the Alliance and that the Alliance should withdraw its military forces from the Allied countries in the East. “It is not that we want Ukraine to become a member of NATO. But we don’t want it to be said that a sovereign state can’t make certain decisions, and that goes for Ukraine, Finland, Sweden and any other sovereign state”, he warned.
Upon arrival at their informal meeting, several foreign ministers described the Russian proposals as unacceptable. “If Russia’s desire is to return to Yalta - the basis of both proposals is a pre-1990 bloc logic - this is not acceptable to us. But if there is a desire to build something else, let’s continue to discuss”, said the French diplomatic chief, Jean-Yves Le Drian.
In his opinion, the elements are in place to be able to move towards the Normandy format. French and German envoys went on a mission to Ukraine and Russia last week to look at the possibilities of resuming dialogue. “A strong sign will be the resumption of discussions, especially as we know the roadmap to be implemented”, he added. His counterpart in the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, recalled that the only way to reduce tensions “sustainably” is through dialogue.
After a week of intense diplomacy, “the ball is in Russia’s court”, said Romanian Minister Bogdan Aurescu.
But if Russia decides to act against European security or to attack Ukraine again, the EU will take strong measures, warned several ministers and the High Representative. According to Jeppe Kofod of Denmark, the EU should be prepared to take “political and economic measures on a scale never before seen”.
Asked about the NordStream 2 pipeline, Mr Borrell said its operation would also depend on events in Ukraine and on Russia’s attitude. “It’s impossible to imagine that on the one hand we are thinking of imposing sanctions against Russia and on the other hand we are opening this infrastructure”, he said.
In addition, the EU Council decided to extend for six months, until 31 July 2022, the restrictive measures currently targeting certain Russian economic sectors. This decision follows an agreement at the European Council on 16 December. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)