European diplomacy chief Borrell encourages "any attempts to stop the crisis," but he is clear that Ukraine must decide on this issue. Then there's the call for togetherness, which comes out as a criticism.
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| Josep Borell EU |
The European Union is not convinced by the Italian plan that was offered to the United Nations in order to achieve a truce in Ukraine and ensure the neutrality of the 'hot' areas, if not the whole nation. This was made abundantly clear today by the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU, Josep Borrell, after yesterday the Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, handed over to the UN - in perfect solitude and without coordination with the EU counterparts - a path in four stages for the pacification of Ukraine. This was done without any coordination with the EU counterparts.
Today, Borrell made a statement in which he made reference to Di Maio's proposal without ever directly naming him. He stated, "I took note of the announcement by our Italian colleague of a peace plan presented by Italy to the Secretary General of the United Nations last May 19," and he did so without naming Di Maio. As the chief of EU diplomacy continued speaking in front of the cameras, he stated, "We in the European Union support all efforts to attempt to stop the war." Borrell emphasized, "But this, from the European point of view, requires an immediate stop of the aggression and the unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine," and then moved on to address the core of the issue. "But this, from the European point of view, requires an immediate stop of the aggression," Borrell said.
According to the statements made by the High Representative, "the circumstances for this ceasefire must be chosen by Ukraine." On the other hand, the Italian proposal sets the concept of the neutrality of Kiev or of the areas of Crimea and Donbass within the framework of international alliances. This is an important distinction to make. A proposition that has been introduced into the process of pacification of the nation, although the Ukrainian government has not yet given its opinion on the matter. Borrell emphasized that "now, at the level of the European Union, we attempt to help Ukraine" and that "we make every diplomatic effort to negotiate a ceasefire."
"But we also hope that when there are discussions, which will take place at some time, Ukraine will come there in a position of strength," the author writes. "This is something that will take place at some point." A term that has been used several times since the "remote" 24th of February, when Russian tanks first invaded Ukrainian soil. Since that time, the European Union has not positioned itself as a neutral mediator between the two warring sides in the crisis; rather, it has positioned itself as an ally of Ukraine in the defensive fight against an assault by Russia. A choice of front that begins with the recognition that the ongoing war involves both an aggressor (Russia) and an attacked party (Ukraine), as well as the fact that Russia is the aggressor (Ukraine).
In conclusion, Borrell said, "I implore us Europeans to preserve solidarity on all fronts, diplomatic and military, when it comes to Russia's aggression against Ukraine." Probably a veiled criticism directed at the Italian government for moving through with the ceasefire idea without first consulting with the governments of other EU nations.