Borrell travels to Ukraine for the last time to reaffirm EU support after Trump’s victory

The high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security, Josep Borrell, arrived early this Saturday in kyiv to reaffirm to the Ukrainian authorities the commitment of the community bloc to continue supporting Ukraine, days after the victory of the republican candidate , Donald Trump in the US presidential elections.

“No one knows exactly what the new administration will do, and the administration of (the current president Joe) Biden is still in power and can make decisions in the next two months,” Borrell said upon his arrival to the delegation of journalists who accompanied him when asked about the possibility that Trump decides to end Washington’s military aid to kyivas has been raised by the Republican leader’s entourage.

Borrell asked “not to anticipate events” and explained that the objective of what will be his last visit to Ukraine before leaving the post of head of EU foreign policy in a few days is to convey to the Ukrainians the message that Europe will continue to support to his country in his fight for defend against Russian aggression no matter what happens in the United States.

“It is too early to make drastic judgments about what an administration that has not yet taken office will do,” Borrell said, alluding to Trump, at a joint press conference with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrí Sibiga.

Borrell also claimed the EU as kyiv’s main support ahead of Washington. “Our action has been very important, even more important than that of the United States,” said the Spanish politician, who recalled that military, humanitarian and other types of assistance from Europe has reached 122 billion euros and represents, as he said, , 47% of the total aid that Ukraine has received in this war.

For his part, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister highlighted the good tone of the phone call that President Volodymyr Zelensky had with Trump after the latter’s electoral victory and affirmed that the teams of both leaders are working to organize a meeting between the two.

Borrell has also defended thatincorporation of North Korean soldiers into Russian troops fighting against Ukraine represents a “globalization of war” that will have consequences both in the region and in the Far East. “Who would have imagined that North Korean troops would be fighting against Ukraine,” Borrell said.

He highlighted the need to increase diplomatic pressure on North Korea to prevent Pyongyang from sending more soldiers to fight with Russia and affirmed that his recent trip to South Korea to coordinate reactions with Seoul is a step in this direction. “The security of South Korea depends on Ukraine and is also being defended here,” he said regarding the ramifications that Pyongyang’s entry into the war could have in the Asia-Pacific region.

The head of European diplomacy insisted that Ukraine’s Western partners must allow it use their weapons to attack military targets located within the Russian Federation a demand from kyiv that has not received the green light for the moment.

The Spanish politician explained that he also plans to travel “as close as possible” to the front. Borrell is rushing through the last days of his mandate before handing over to the former Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kalla. As head of European diplomacy, the socialist has been characterized by his support for Ukraine and has visited this country on numerous occasions.