WORLD 22/02/08 Europe in 'most dangerous' moment since Cold War: EU top diplomat

[성기화 요셉]

Europe in 'most dangerous' moment since Cold War: EU top diplomat

US officials say Moscow has assembled 110,000 troops near the border with Ukraine and is on track to amass a larger force

AFP 

Published: February 08, 2022 07:31 AM GMT ▾

Trending

1

Indian bishop, priests arrested for illegal sand miningFeb 8, 2022

2

Letter from Rome: The old order is passing awayFeb 6, 2022

3

Justice for women religious within the Catholic Church Feb 7, 2022

4

US pastor resigns after using 'improper form' for baptismsFeb 5, 2022

5

Maturing of Christian faith and mindfulness Feb 8, 2022

6

Vietnamese priest's alleged killer 'not insane'Feb 7, 2022

7

Indian court reminds Hindu petitioner of ‘religious tolerance’Feb 7, 2022

8

Philippine diocese warns against dismissed priest’s ministry Feb 7, 2022

9

Striking Cambodian casino workers ordered home after Omicron detectedFeb 7, 2022

10

“Words without thoughts”Feb 7, 2022

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles accompanied by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, speaks during news conference at the State Department in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2022. (Photo: AFP)

Europe is facing its most serious security threat since the Cold War, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Monday, while still voicing hope for a diplomatic resolution to the standoff with Russia over Ukraine.

Questioned over US warnings of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, at a joint news conference in Washington with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Borrell said they shared "a strong concern" about the situation on the ex-Soviet state's borders.

"We are living, to my understanding, the most dangerous moment for security in Europe after the end of the Cold War," Borrell told reporters.

"Nobody masses 140,000 soldiers heavily armed in the border of a country" without it representing "a strong threat," he said.

"140,000 troops massed in the border is not to go to have tea," Borrell underscored.

US officials say Moscow has assembled 110,000 troops near the border with Ukraine and is on track to amass a large enough force -- some 150,000 soldiers -- for a full-scale invasion within weeks.

Blinken denied Washington's stance was alarmist, saying: "This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts."

Both the United States and European Union are threatening to retaliate with unprecedented economic sanctions should Russian President Vladimir Putin move ahead with an invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

"We don't believe that Mr President Putin has made a decision, but he has put in place the capacity, should he so decide, to act very quickly against Ukraine, and in ways that would have terrible consequences for Ukraine, for Russia, but consequences also for all of us," said Blinken.

Nevertheless, both Blinken and Borrell stressed that diplomacy was still hard at work to bring the standoff to a peaceful resolution.

Related News

-

Pope sets day of prayer for peace in Ukraine

Ukrainians are afraid but pray for peace, archbishop says

'Suffering' Ukraine deserves peace, Pope Francis says

Lithuanian archbishop backs 'hard line of deterrence' against