EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba focused on fears of Russia’s possible "invasion" of that country in a phone call, the EU External Action Service (EEAS) said in a press release on Thursday.
"On 23 December 2021, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell held a phone call with Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmitry Kuleba to discuss the security situation in Eastern Europe in light of Russia’s military build-up around Ukraine," the press release says. "The military build-up has created new threats and fears of invasion."
Borrell "reaffirmed the European Union‘s firm and continued support to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity," the press release says.
"He stressed that any further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe costs. He underlined the need for Russia to de-escalate and fully implement the Minsk agreements," it reads.
Borrell told Kuleba that "the EU is closely coordinating with transatlantic and other like-minded partners, including in relation to the two draft treaties affecting the European security architecture presented by Russia."
"The EU remains committed to the right of every country to make its sovereign choices in foreign and security policy," the EEAS concluded.
