Borrell: EU will do whatever it takes to ensure Russia’s accountability

The European Union will do whatever is necessary to ensure Russia’s accountability, EU High Representative Josep Borrell told the UN Security Council yesterday. 

Reacting to Putin’s recent open nuclear threats, Borrel said that global leaders meeting at the United Nations in New York this week must send a clear and united signal that the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction is unacceptable in any circumstances. 

“Regrettably, President Putin is continuing along the dangerous path of escalation. He is trying to intimidate Ukraine and all countries that support Ukraine,” said Borrell. “But this will fail. It has failed in the past and it will fail again, as all wars of invasion eventually do. But how many more men, women and children need to die before the Russian President decides to silence his guns?” 

Commenting on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s words at the UN General Assembly that peace will not be possible without justice, Borrell said the EU will do whatever it takes to ensure accountability, including by supporting financially and technically the International Criminal Court (ICC) and through assisting the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General by providing training, expertise and equipment, including on collecting evidence. 

“Ensuring accountability is the responsibility of all of us. We owe this not only to the victims – but also to the next generation, to the future of Ukraine. Because fighting impunity today will contribute to a more secure and just future for all,” concluded Borrell.

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