The Foreign Ministry called Borrell’s statement on EU mobilisation against Russia a manifestation of racism
The statement by EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell that if the EU does not mobilise all its capabilities, Russia will gain the upper hand in the Ukrainian conflict was a manifestation of racism and nationalism on the part of the politician, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
The EU diplomatic chief said earlier that Russia would gain the upper hand in the conflict in Ukraine if the EU does not mobilise all its capabilities. He also suggested that Russia would not remain satisfied with a “limited territorial victory” and called on it to “prepare for a high-intensity conflict for a long time.” Borrel also called the Russian Federation a great power that allegedly threatens European democracy.
“This is a statement by an illiterate person who obviously professes elements of racist and nationalist ideology,” Zakharova said at a briefing.
She also recalled that the head of European diplomacy has already become famous around the world for his racist rhetoric, comparing the European Union to a beautiful garden and the rest of the world to a jungle. “The current statement regarding our country, which he calls a great power, cannot be characterised other than outright literal envy,” she added.
Speaking at the opening of the European Diplomatic Academy in Belgium’s Bruges last year, Borrel made the judgement that “privileged” Europe is a “garden” and the world around it is a “jungle” that can rudely invade the well-oiled and perfectly working European mechanism. These words of Borrell caused mixed reactions in the European and international community and forced the EU foreign policy service and Europe’s top diplomat to justify himself.