Borrell Foresees Ukraine's Future Without Western Assistance
Josep Borrell stated that the Ukraine conflict might conclude within 15 days if Western support for Kiev were to cease. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The Ukraine conflict could come to a swift conclusion within 15 days if Western support for Kiev were to cease, outgoing EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has suggested. In a recent interview with the Spanish news outlet 20minutos, he indicated that while many desire to see an end to the conflict, Ukraine’s allies are unlikely to accept a resolution that favors Russia.
Borrell asserted that without assistance from the EU and the US, Ukraine would have little choice but to surrender. “If we stop supporting Ukraine, the war will be over in fifteen days and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will achieve his goals. But do we want this for the Ukrainians, and for the security of ourselves, as Europeans?” He emphasized the significance of the conflict's conclusion, noting that it matters more how the situation resolves than when it does.
“It is important,” he stated, “to ensure that when the time comes, negotiations can be held on terms favorable to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” As a strong advocate for Ukraine, Borrell has previously affirmed the bloc's commitment to providing unwavering support.
Borrell is set to step down later this autumn, with former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas taking over, who has shown support for imposing stricter sanctions against Moscow.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported last month that the country largely relies on Western military assistance, estimating it to be about 80% of its support for the fight against Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky has frequently criticized Western nations for their delays in supplying essential weaponry, slow decision-making regarding aid packages, and hesitance to authorize strikes deep into Russian territory using Western-supplied arms.
Russia has contended that continued Western aid only extends the duration of the conflict. President Putin has previously claimed that Ukraine’s military would disintegrate within a week if the flow of Western supplies was interrupted.
Earlier this year, Putin signaled Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks if Kiev relinquished its claims to territories that voted to join Russia and withdrew its NATO aspirations. However, following Ukraine's incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region in August, Putin announced that he would not engage with Kiev until Ukrainian forces exited Russian territory.
Kiev is currently lobbying its allies to endorse Zelensky’s ‘victory plan’, which reportedly contradicts nearly all of Russia's conditions. Although the details of the plan remain undisclosed, it has encountered skepticism from Western officials. Nonetheless, Zelensky asserted over the weekend his intention to keep advocating for it. Former Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has previously dismissed the plan, labeling it as “notorious.”
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Borrell asserted that without assistance from the EU and the US, Ukraine would have little choice but to surrender. “If we stop supporting Ukraine, the war will be over in fifteen days and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will achieve his goals. But do we want this for the Ukrainians, and for the security of ourselves, as Europeans?” He emphasized the significance of the conflict's conclusion, noting that it matters more how the situation resolves than when it does.
“It is important,” he stated, “to ensure that when the time comes, negotiations can be held on terms favorable to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” As a strong advocate for Ukraine, Borrell has previously affirmed the bloc's commitment to providing unwavering support.
Borrell is set to step down later this autumn, with former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas taking over, who has shown support for imposing stricter sanctions against Moscow.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported last month that the country largely relies on Western military assistance, estimating it to be about 80% of its support for the fight against Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky has frequently criticized Western nations for their delays in supplying essential weaponry, slow decision-making regarding aid packages, and hesitance to authorize strikes deep into Russian territory using Western-supplied arms.
Russia has contended that continued Western aid only extends the duration of the conflict. President Putin has previously claimed that Ukraine’s military would disintegrate within a week if the flow of Western supplies was interrupted.
Earlier this year, Putin signaled Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks if Kiev relinquished its claims to territories that voted to join Russia and withdrew its NATO aspirations. However, following Ukraine's incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region in August, Putin announced that he would not engage with Kiev until Ukrainian forces exited Russian territory.
Kiev is currently lobbying its allies to endorse Zelensky’s ‘victory plan’, which reportedly contradicts nearly all of Russia's conditions. Although the details of the plan remain undisclosed, it has encountered skepticism from Western officials. Nonetheless, Zelensky asserted over the weekend his intention to keep advocating for it. Former Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has previously dismissed the plan, labeling it as “notorious.”
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
