EU strongly condemns latest Russian strikes near the Ukraine-Poland border
The European Union strongly condemns the latest Russian strikes near the Ukraine-Poland border, including an attack on a passenger train, a European Commission spokesperson said on September 14.
The spokesperson quoted EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as having said earlier on September 14: “I think that it is clearly meant to scare Western countries from supporting Ukraine, from going to Ukraine to show support. It was clearly a message to the Western world.”
“The question for us is, what do we take from that message? I think we should act the opposite. We should show that we are there for Ukraine and we are not scared off,” Kallas said.
The spokesperson said that the EU would continue to stand by Ukraine, “and also, of course, to continue with our efforts on defence for Europe in all the programmes we have put forward, including the SAFE programme, including the More Flexibility and the Stability and Growth Pact, working intensively with our member states to ensure that Europe is ready to defend itself, and we will continue working in that direction.”
“We’re working together on strengthening joint defence procurement for all the programmes, and we’re standing in solidarity with our member states, of course, particularly when member states see such incidents,” the spokesperson said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speaking at a special meeting of the government security council he called after the train attack, said: “The coming weeks and months will be a period of very intensified Russian actions. Unfortunately, we cannot rule out that this escalation will also affect Polish territory”.
“This morning’s attack demonstrates that Russia is ready to use more dangerous equipment than before – jet drones,” Tusk said.
Recently, Russian attacks on Ukraine have been intensifying, and Russia’s actions are being carried out ever closer to the Polish border, he said.
“As we expected, and as I have repeatedly reported, the escalation of the Russian Federation’s actions is becoming a fact, and examples of this are getting closer and closer to our border.”
From today, the relevant services will operate in a reinforced mode, he said.
Work at border crossings will also require special attention.
“The government will also analyse the possibility of mobilising our allies,” Tusk said. “Poland, together with its partners, must be prepared for a joint and coordinated response if necessary.”
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking on September 14, said: “Russia is struggling in Ukraine and continues to lash out, with reckless and dangerous attacks, including on civilian infrastructure, close to Nato territory.
“The strike on a passenger train in Ukraine yesterday shows how desperate Putin has become,” Rutte said.
“He thinks that he can stop us from supporting Ukraine. And that he can undermine our unity. He is wrong,” he said.
“Our answer is to increase support to Ukraine, so it has what it needs to defend itself.”
Rutte said that Nato’s commitment to collective defence is ironclad. “We will always do what is necessary to protect every inch of Allied territory,” he said.
