European Union High Representative Josep Borrell on Tuesday accused Russia of «vaguely» asking for negotiations while it continues to carry out «systematic» shelling of Ukrainian cities and their civilian infrastructure.
«Russia has made clear its intentions that it will continue the war. On the one hand they vaguely say they want negotiations, but on the other hand the war continues and the destruction increases. As we speak, Kiev and other Ukrainian cities are under Russian attack,» said the head of European diplomacy at a press conference after the meeting of EU defense ministers.
These words come as Moscow has launched a new wave of massive attacks against different points in Ukraine, including the capital, Kiev. «This is a war of logistics, where the supply chain matters a lot and where defense systems are vital,» he said.
«The equipment that the Europeans and Americans are sending is proving to be extraordinarily useful. These weapons make a difference,» Borrell stressed.
After the meeting in which the European defense chiefs spoke by videoconference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksi Reznikov, he defended maintaining support to Ukraine by sending air defense systems and more ammunition, pointing out that they are key for the Ukrainian forces «not only to resist but to be able to expel the Russian army».
Ukrainian troops have already been able to recover 50% of the territory that Russia occupied in the early stages of its invasion in February, said Borrell, who despite the Russian withdrawal in Kherson and the attempt to rebuild its defensive lines on the eastern front, warned that Moscow has the capacity to inflict damage on Ukraine and is seeking to prolong the war.
