Borrell tells how the war changed Europe

Russia’s war against Ukraine has “changed Europe”, making it aware of the “importance of strength” for the first time in nearly 80 years. EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said this on Friday, September 27, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Ukrinform reports.

You begin to think in terms of power when you feel the breath of war and threat. That is why the war in Ukraine changed Europe,” said Borrell in a speech at a meeting under the auspices of the Foreign Relations Council on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

According to him, the brutality of the Russian aggression helped the Europeans to achieve a common understanding of the threat, “because at a certain time the Russian threat did not have the same meaning in Riga and Lisbon.”

Borrell explained that Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine forced Europeans to adapt to the use of force in Europe.

“We are very far from the idea of ​​power, relying on soft power (trade and interdependence – ed.). Now we are in the process of creating hard power. It will take some time… We want to have the power to prevent our enemies, directly or indirectly,” said Borrell.

In his opinion, NATO will continue to remain the basis of European security, but the issue of strengthening strategic autonomy, which means developing the defense capabilities of European countries, is now relevant for the EU.

Earlier, Borrell said that finding ways to peace in Ukraine is possible only by respecting the provisions of the UN Charter.

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