European Commission warns Russia not to invade Ukraine as tensions rise along the border

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are continuing to escalate as the military presence along the countries’ borders increases. 

The world is watching Eastern Europe as Ukraine expresses fears that Russia will invade its territory.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinked and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation last week with Mr Blinken demanding Russia to withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian border.

“We have deep concerns about Russia’s plans for renewed aggression against Ukraine,” Mr Blinken says.

NATO’s military has since expanded eastward which Lavrov views as a “fundamental security threat”.

“No one should strengthen their security at the expense of the security of others,” Mr Lavrov says.

“Further advance of NATO to the east will unambiguously affect the fundamental interests of our security.” 

The European Union has warned that if Russia advances into Ukraine they will respond accordingly.

Ticker’s Ahron Young spoke to the European Commission’s Peter Stano on Turning Point last week.

Ticker’s Ahron Young spoke to the European Commission’s Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy who says the conflict between the two former Soviet Union countries would benefit no one.

“If they do proceed in this way it would only lead to further misery in Russia in terms of economic performance and international isolation,” Mr Stano says.

“If Russia proceeds we have a huge toolbox of measures we can take and instrument we can use and I don’t think this is in the interest of Russia.”

Russian officials have denied any plans to invade Ukraine, explaining their border troops as a military exercise

Mr Stano doubts Russia’s desire to invade Ukraine as “no country in a civilised world wants to be seen as systematically violating international law and invading its neighbours”. 

When analysing Russia’s intimidating behaviour, Mr Stano believes the superpower is using Ukraine to showcase its dissatisfaction with Europe.  

“Ukraine cannot become a battleground and an expression of Russia’s frustrations or paranoia against the European Union or against NATO,” says Mr Stano.

This comes only five years after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula sparking a separatist insurgency in Ukraine’s east. 

Since the occupation the Ukrainian government has banned three Russian state TV stations and imposed sanctions on one of President Putin’s confidants.