Josep Borrell affirmed that “urgent measures” are being taken to find solutions that allow the resumption of Ukrainian exports and the opening of Ukrainian ports in the face of the naval blockade Russian
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs (REUTERS/Yves Herman)
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, rejected the president Russian, Vladimir Putin, who is “using hunger as a weapon”, not only in Ukraine, but also in other countries such as those in Africa or the Middle East.
“Russia’s war in Ukraine affects the whole world. The world is currently facing a grain war in which the Russian president is using hunger as a weapon against the most vulnerable, not only in Ukraine, but also here in the Middle East, in Africa, in Asia,” Borrell pointed out. during his visit to Jordan.
That is why Brussels is taking “urgent measures” to find solutions that allowresume Ukrainian exports and support the UN for the opening of Ukrainian ports in the face of the Russian naval blockade. “If an agreement is reached between the UN and Russia, the EU is ready to assume its part in this solution” , he remarked.
During his visit, Borrell met with King Abdullah of Jordan and with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Aiman Safadi and highlighted the “ special relationship” that the EU has with Jordan. In particular, he highlighted that Jordan is the first country to sign an EU-Jordan Association Priorities agreement with the EU.
File photo of Borrell with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Aiman Safadi (REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed)
“We have reconfirmed the strong relationship and friendship that the European Union has and Jordan with this Association Priorities agreement that will guide our cooperation until 2027. Jordan is the first country in the southern neighborhood with which we have signed this type of document that demonstrates the special relationship and trust we have”, he argued Borrell.
This same Saturday Elíseo has reported that the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has had a telephone conversation with King Abdullah of Jordan. Macron has highlighted the “strategic alliance” between France and Jordan.
On the other hand, Borrell stressed on Friday that religious leaders who support the war should not be exempted from responsibilities in Ukraine, such as the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill and who has failed to sanction the EU in a concession to Hungary.
“Religious leaders should not be exempt from responsibility for supporting Putin’s war,” Borrell said in a message through his official Twitter profile.
The European Union adopted on Friday definitively the sixth package of sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, which includes an embargo on Russian oil that arrives by sea and provides exceptions for oil that arrives by pipeline to landlocked countries such as Hungary , Czech Republic, or Slovakia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (REUTERS)
Instead, In order to carry out this new round of restrictive measures, which required a month of negotiations, the EU had to remove Kiril from the list of new sanctions. “The withdrawal of Patriarch Kiril shows the limits of foreign policy based on unanimity”, recognized Borrell, who stressed at the same time that the prohibition of 90% of Russian oil imports to the EU, included in the sanctions, “represents a severe blow to Putin’s coffers”.
< p class=”paragraph”>In a statement on behalf of the Twenty-Seven, Borrell also condemned the Russian presidential decrees of May 25 and 30 that simplify the process of granting Russian citizenship and the issuance of Russian passports to Ukrainian citizens from the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, under Russian military control. Also Ukrainian children without parental care and legally incapacitated people from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions. “The European Union will not recognize these passports, issued in the framework of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”, he asserted.
Borrell also “strongly condemned ” any attempt by Russia to replace the democratically elected and legitimate Ukrainian administrations, to introduce the Russian ruble as a parallel currency, and to impose Russian curricula and educational materials and change the language of instruction in schools. “Any attempt to alter the status of parts of the Ukrainian territory is a clear violation of international law, the UN Charter and the Constitution of Ukraine, further undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and it will not be recognized by the European Union”, he added.
The high representative assured that Russia, its political leaders and all those involved in violations of international law and international humanitarian law “will have to be held accountable for these illegal actions.”
(With information from Europa Press)< /p>