Josep Borrell urges support for the Ukrainian Army to determine how the war ends

2023-06-03 16:06:06

The high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, urged this Saturday at a security forum in Singapore to “continue to support the Ukrainian Army”Well, the question is not only “end the war, but how to do it”.

“If we stop supporting the Ukrainian Army, the war would end in a couple of weeks. But how? If the answer matters, we can’t stop supporting the Ukrainian Army.” Borrell stated during his participation in a panel on regional tensions held today within the framework of the Shangri-La Dialogue (June 2-4).

In what is considered the most important annual security forum in Asia, the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, as well as the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, and the Chinese Defense Minister, Li Shangfua, also participate. among the more than 550 delegates from some 40 countries.

Borrell insisted that the Ukrainian war “cannot end with the victory of the aggressor”when Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital with cruise missiles and drones yesterday for the sixth consecutive day, while the United States says it has provided Ukraine with everything it needs to start a counteroffensive against the invading country.

The Spanish diplomat also warned that “force and coercion are on the rise”hence, “as expected, everyone is expanding their military spending,” especially in Asia.

Thus, he urged “do more to build confidence” between nations and “stand up for our principles when they are threatened, whether in the Ukraine, the South China Sea or anywhere elsewithout directly referring to China.

“At the same time, we want to make sure that the Indo-Pacific remains peaceful.“, he remarked, arguing that “Europe and Asia have a direct role in mutual security. We have to work together to avoid a confrontation in the region”he added, amid rising tensions between China and the US.

“The epicenter, the heart of global competition is here, in the Indo-Pacific”he remarked.

Borrell will be in Singapore from June 3 to 5, where he also plans to meet with authorities from the Asian country, reported Friday through a statement on European External Action Service (EEAS).

On the sidelines of the Dialogue, the High Representative will hold bilateral meetings with his Asian counterparts on the sidelines to discuss regional and bilateral issues.