Energy dependence is a weapon and we must react when it is used against us, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said today

Josep Boról Fontales was a Spanish politician from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Conference at a press conference following a joint meeting of European foreign and defense ministers on Ukraine.

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine

He clarified that the ministers did not vote today for the introduction of new sanctions against Russia.

In response to a question, Borrell noted that the lifting of sanctions is not on the agenda because they are a means of pressure.

A truce must be reached first, and then lasting peace must be agreed, the High Representative explained.

According to him, Russian President Vladimir Putin is using Ukrainian refugees against the EU and noted that Russian forces are not destroying Ukraine's transport infrastructure, but only cities to depopulate them.

According to him, all Ukrainian refugees, who already reach 3.3 million people, are welcome in the EU and all European countries are helping them.

The EU is extremely united in supporting Ukraine, we will continue to isolate Russia, we will name war crimes, violations of international and humanitarian law.

We will continue to provide economic and financial support to Kyiv, as well as to the Ukrainian armed forces, he added.

Borrell said an agreement had been reached today to allocate another half a billion euros to Ukraine's defense.

He added that with the approval of the so-called

Borrell: The EU is ready to discuss energy sanctions against Russia

The EU's Strategic Compass for a Common Approach to Defense is creating, for the first time, a stockpile of 5,000 General Command personnel capable of rapid deployment.

According to him, the EU spends on defense as much as China and four times more than Russia, but not with the same efficiency.

Borrell said the EU is expected to identify and fill gaps in its defense policy.

Europe is under threat because of the invasion of Ukraine, these are not just words, Borel warned.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine

Josep Borrell