Europe crosses the "most dangerous moment" for its security since the end of the Cold War, although it remains "possible" a "diplomatic solution" with Russia on Ukraine, declared the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, in Washington on Monday.
Asked about US warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, Borrell said that "shared great concern" for this threat.
"We are undoubtedly living, in my opinion, the most dangerous moment for security in Europe after the end of the Cold War", he claimed.
"Nobody concentrates 140,000 heavily armed soldiers on the border of a country" without this "pose a serious threat", he noted, calculating that there are more Russian troops at Ukraine’s gates than the 110,000 mentioned in recent days by US officials.
"140,000 soldiers posted on the border, they are not here for tea!"Borrell exclaimed.
Together with him, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, denied that there "alarmism" in warnings from Washington.
"It’s not scaremongering, it’s just the facts", he indicated at a joint press conference.
The United States and European powers accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of plotting a possible invasion of Ukraine and threaten massive economic sanctions if he does.
"We do not believe that Putin has made a decision, but he has put the means in place, should he decide to do so, to act very quickly against Ukraine in a way that would have dire consequences for Ukraine, Russia and all of us."insisted the head of US diplomacy.
Both assured, however, that the diplomatic route has not yet been exhausted.
"We believe that a diplomatic way out of this crisis is still possible"Borrell summed up. "We hope for the best, but prepare for the worst".