The high representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, has applauded the decision of the still president of the United States, Joe Biden, to allow Ukraine to use its weapons to attack Russian territory. After Vladimir Putin launched one of the harshest attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, the head of European diplomacy reiterated that “Ukraine should be able to use the weapons” sent to it by its allies “not only to stop the arrows but also to being able to hit the bows.”
In statements to journalists before presiding over the last meeting of foreign ministers of his mandate, Borrell reiterated that it is necessary to continue supporting Ukraine and that “nothing has changed”, despite the elections in the United States, where the victory of Donald Trump puts that country’s position in the conflict at risk: “There is a war, Ukraine defends itself, Russia continues to attack and we will continue to support.” “We have to continue supporting Ukraine as long as necessary, as much as possible and as quickly as possible,” he added.
Regarding the use of long-range missiles against Russian soil, Borrell wanted it to be an agreement between the member states – it is complicated because some have doubts that this would mean an escalation in the conflict – or that they do it individually. There are countries that agree with this decision, such as France. “It is an option that we should consider if this allows us to achieve objectives from which Russia is attacking Ukraine,” said the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot.
Ukraine is one of the main issues on the foreign ministers’ table this Monday, as it has been since February 2022, but the highlight will be the war in the Middle East. In his farewell, Borrell has raised the suspension of political dialogue with Israel as a signal to question the violation of human rights in the Gaza massacre, as well as by the settlers. “We have run out of words to explain what is happening in the Middle East,” Borrell said before recalling that more than 44,000 people have been murdered in Gaza, the majority of whom are women and children. “The most frequent victims are children under nine years old,” he emphasized.
Despite this situation, there is no consensus in the capitals to reach that decision. Although the French minister has recognized that the situation is “catastrophic”, he has thrown the ball away regarding the suspension of political dialogue, which in practice would have little effect because, according to diplomatic sources, even now Tel Aviv does not listen to its partners and nor does it have financial or commercial consequences. What Barrot has pointed to is the need to put more sanctions on Hamas and violent settlers in the interest of “security.”
Most countries, such as Germany or the Netherlands, rule out breaking relations with Israel. “The last thing we need is something controversial that divides us more at the table,” diplomatic sources said last week, who saw Borrell’s proposal as “a farewell party gift.”
And it is precisely this disunity within the EU that the high representative has referred to: “At the beginning of my mandate I said that we had to learn to use the language of power. This is more true today than five years ago. To show that you have power you have to be united. If you are not united you have no power, and too many times we have not been united and the discussions have taken too long. You are not a geopolitical power if it takes you days, weeks or months to make decisions.”
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