NATO will not agree to Russia's demand not to expand eastward, the head of EU diplomacy said
Brussels. January 17th. INTERFAX - Russia does not want to see the European Union as a political actor on the international stage, said the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrel.
"Russia never addresses us and does not want to negotiate with us. This is part of its strategy of dividing (the West - IF)," Borrel said, speaking at a joint meeting of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Security and Defense committees on Monday evening.
He informed MEPs about the EU's position against the background of Russia's negotiations with the United States and NATO that took place last week. In addition, he shared his impressions of his recent visit to Ukraine.
At the same time, Borrel repeated the warning he had repeatedly voiced that the EU is firmly determined to counteract "any military aggression by Russia against Ukraine, which will have a high price and severe consequences" for Moscow. His duty as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs is to propose appropriate measures to the EU Council in the absence of a political solution to the crisis.
"There can be no security of Europe without the security of Ukraine," the head of EU diplomacy repeated.
If Russia intends to talk about its security, then the European Union also wants to talk about its security and be able to have its say, and such security should also extend to Ukraine, he added.
Borrel expressed satisfaction with his consultations with the United States on the outcome of the negotiations and noted the coincidence of views that it is impossible to agree with Russia's demand for non-expansion of NATO to the eastern part of Europe.
