Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg updates on Ukraine crisis

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Russia has massed 130,000 troops near Ukraine but denies it plans to invade. The US, UK and allies are fresh sanctions including against Russia’s largest banks, economy and energy sector in the event Russia invades its neighbour.

However, the European Union’s response has been divided with states including Poland offering Ukraine military equipment, Emmanuel Macron making his own overtures to Vladimir Putin and Germany wavering over sanctions.

Berlin even blocked its Nato ally Estonia from giving military support to Ukraine by refusing to issue permits for weapons originating in Germany to be exported to Kiev, according to a Wall Street Journal report in January.

Britain and Poland agreed to export weapons directly to Ukraine. The US cleared Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send US-made missiles and other weapons to the country.

The EU’s response to the crisis led columnist Madeline Grant to claim: “At best, despite their pretence at being a ‘global power’, the EU institutions themselves can be said to be an irrelevance.”

Writing in The Telegraph, Ms Grant added that European leaders who are reportedly impressed by Westminster’s handling of the situation in Ukraine are said to be planning to invite Britain to lead a new security committee to discuss geopolitical challenges.

She continued: “The move seems as much of an admission of EU failure as a recognition of British diplomatic success – in an emergency taking place in a country that borders on a number of EU member-states, which itself aspires to EU membership, why shouldn’t Brussels itself have been the convenor?”

Ms Grant’s comments come as even the bloc’s MEPs conceded that the current tensions are a “wake-up call” for the EU.

In a debate on EU-Russia relations, European security and the Russian military threat against Ukraine, MEPs called on Wednesday for a united response.

READ MORE ABOUT BORIS JOHNSON SAVAGED OVER A VAT BETRAYAL

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell was forced to reject claims the bloc has been missing in action over the crisis.

When tensions first arose, Brussels was sidelined with senior officials from Washington and Moscow convening in Geneva for talks.

However, Mr Borrell told the European Parliament criticism the bloc had “gone missing” were unfounded.

He told MEPs that EU countries had shown remarkable unity and hailed the diplomatic efforts of France and Germany, whose leaders, Mr Macron and Olaf Scholz, travelled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

DON’T MISS: 
Queen health fears as monarch struggles to greet guests ‘I can’t move’ [LATEST] 
Queen’s bombshell announcement ‘no one saw coming’ [REVEALED] 
Prince Andrew: 3 pieces of evidence likely to have sealed deal named [REPORT]

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, also tried to underline the bloc’s common position.

Euronews reports him telling MEPs: “We, the EU, Nato allies, member states, are working together at every level, on a daily basis, consulting politically and acting together, we are working at a level of intensity and quality that you have not seen for years. Our unity is stronger than ever.”

What is your view of the EU’s response to the Ukraine crisis? Join the debate in the comments section

He urged the bloc to be resolute in its commitment to diplomacy and sanctions even though they will hurt European economies.

However, in The Telegraph article, Ms Grant stated the crisis exposes the bloc as fractured, unable to agree on military support or economic sanctions and divided between bilateral as well as multilateral modes of engagement.

She claimed: “The greatest irony of the EU’s craven response to Ukraine is that the country that most wanted to be European has been failed by Europe.”

By contrast, Britain has pledged £88 million in aid for Ukraine. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Russia that Britain will hit Moscow with sanctions the “moment the first Russian toecap crosses further into Ukrainian territory”.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has announced plans for legislation with new powers to sanction individuals and businesses linked to the Russian state.

The new laws allow Britain to impose tough penalties on those close to the Kremlin and involved in destabilising Ukraine.

Britain also threatened on Tuesday to block Russian companies from raising capital in London and to expose property and company ownership if Russia invades Ukraine.

Source: Read Full Article