Borrell asks the Europeans to turn down the heat: “Decrease the dependency of those who attack Ukraine” | Economy

The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has called this Wednesday for a collective effort from the citizens of Europe to lower the heating in their homes and cut economic ties with Russia in retaliation for the military offensive ordered by Vladimir Putin against Russia. Ukraine. “Europeans need the noise of the bombs at five in the morning falling on Kiev to wake them up from their sleep of well-being and allow them to face the challenges that the world projects on us”, assured the head of community diplomacy in a debate on the situation in Ukraine in the European Parliament.

The High Representative has asked to draw lessons from the coronavirus crisis and commit to collective efforts at European level in the “political crusade” against Russia, starting by limiting energy dependence as much as possible. “Cut off the gas in your homes, reduce the dependency of those who attack Ukraine and let’s commit ourselves more to collective defense,” he summarized.

Specifically, Borrell has directly called for lowering the heating in houses, comparing this step with the use of the mask during the pandemic. “What we have done during the coronavirus must be done with Ukraine. A collective commitment to a historic task. We started late, but better late than never”, he pointed out. According to Borrell, the Russian invasion opens a new historical era that will mark European policies for decades to come. The head of European diplomacy has warned that the cascade of European sanctions will have to be strengthened and maintained over time, after indicating that the initial response against Moscow will not be enough.

Regarding the reinforcement of the military dimension, the High Representative has been blunt in pointing out that the EU must rethink “what it wants to be” in terms of Defense and how to defend its values ​​and principles from the “ring of fire” in which it is surrounded by neighbors like Putin. According to Borrell, the EU must advance the work to build collective security and defense and in this sense has called on the Member States to increase military spending, pointing to the step taken by Germany in the midst of the war in Ukraine. “We all prefer butter to cannons”, he has said, referring to how difficult it is to announce more investment in Defense, but he has insisted that in the current context it would be “denying reality”.

Estonian Prime Minister calls for more investment in Defense

The Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, also participated in the debate, assuring that her country has experience in “being deported and fleeing from war”, referring to the times of the Soviet Union, and has always contributed her vision since its entry into the EU on how the relationship with Moscow should be. From the rostrum of the European Parliament she has asked for “strategic patience” in the face of the long-term challenge that the conflict in Ukraine represents and has asked not to take any step back in the response to the Kremlin. “Putin wants to put us to the test and we have to resist,” she said, urging European partners to make a “sustained effort” on sanctions.

Of course, he has demanded more steps at the level of the Twenty-seven in terms of Defense, by ensuring that ties with NATO must be strengthened and invest “at least” 2 percent of GDP in Defense, a bar that the Atlantic Alliance has demanding years from the European allies. And regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU, Kallas has called for giving Kiev “perspective of becoming a member”, stating that it is a “moral duty” of Europeans. “Ukraine is not only fighting for Ukraine, but for Europe. If not now then when will it be? ”, He has underlined.