The European Union will make active diplomatic efforts to end russia's war against Ukraine and find ways to peacefully coexist with russia.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell stated this in his blog on the European External Action Service website, Ukrinform reports.
"... perpetual tension or conflict is certainly not the option preferred by the EU, we will need to find ways to reorganise the relationship between the EU and Russia and agree on security guarantees and mechanisms to allow for peaceful coexistence to take hold again. This will for sure be a very difficult and lengthy process. The Russian leadership must first understand that its own security cannot and will not be attained at the expense of broader European security and that of its neighbours," he emphasized.
Borrell also noted that what russia has done over the years to "guarantee" its security has backfired. By creating a series of conflicts in the common neighborhood with the European Union, russia has "poisoned" life in these countries and undermined trust in relations with the EU.
Borrell is convinced that peace in Europe can only be built on an understanding of mutual security interests and concerns, mutual respect for national sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
"Putin's decision to invade Ukraine should have been avoided. The EU, US, and NATO replied carefully to russian proposed treaties and letters. The message was clear on our side: we are ready to discuss all aspects of security, including the russian references to ‘indivisibility’ of security. But this cannot be done while military actions are taken, cities are bombarded, and civilians are killed - and guns are literally pointed at one's, or one's friends, heads. The aggression needs to stop first," Borrell emphasized. He questioned how many deaths and destruction would need to occur before russia's president agrees to get into the dialogue.
The EU High Representative expressed hope that the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was in Moscow on Monday and would arrive in Kyiv, would help convince the russian leadership of the need to stop the aggression. So far, the prospect of such a development, he said, is not encouraging, as Putin is determined to continue the war.
On 24 February, the president of the russian federation announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles.
The EU, the US, and other countries have imposed sanctions against the aggressor country. Many companies have announced the termination of work in russia and the withdrawal from joint projects.