EU Warns Spark Could Set Off Escalation Between Russia And Ukraine

By Donald Standeford, Correspondent
Date Published: 2021-04-21 10:03AM UTC
Last Modified: 2021-05-03 11:22PM PST

The European Union has warned that a spark could set off further escalation between Russia and the Ukraine, as Russian forces building up on the Ukrainian border far exceed the numbers that were deployed there during the peak of the Russian & Ukrainian conflict in 2014.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union said that the current medical condition of imprisoned Putin critic, Alexei Navalny was "Critical" and that Russia would be held accountable by the EU if anything were to happen to Navalny.

Borrell stated "It is the highest military deployment of the Russian army on the Ukrainian borders ever. It’s clear that it’s a matter of concern when you deploy a lot of troops, well, a spark can jump here or there."

Borrell had initially given an estimate of 150,000 Russian troops stationed on the Ukrainian border, calling it his "Reference figure" but later revised the number, saying that the real number is over 100,000. He added, "the risk of further escalation — it’s evident."

Over 14,000 people have died since the fighting between Russia and the Ukraine started in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and if tensions continue to increase, that number may rise dramatically.

Borrell declared, "All in all, the relations with Russia, are not improving, but the contrary, the tension is increasing in different fronts. We call on Russia to withdraw their troops."