The European Union is both concerned and cautious about events in Russia in the wake of the Wagner paramilitary group’s uprising against the Russian military command and Vladimir Putin’s government, and aims to coordinate with international allies in responding. Brussels is “monitoring” the situation closely, consulting both with the capitals of the 27 countries, many of which have also indicated that they are currently “monitoring” the situation, and with the G7’s international partners. that have already taken place This Saturday, a telematics meeting took place at the level of foreign ministers. NATO is also “following the situation,” according to Washington, official spokesmen said. There are two categorical messages from the European institutions: first, that what is happening is “clearly an internal Russian matter”, declared both the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the spokesmen of the European Commission and the European Union President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. Second, they all unanimously reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for Ukraine as well.
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Both Brussels and various European capitals, from Berlin to Paris or Rome, have indicated that they are currently “closely following events in Russia”. Contacts between the Twenty-Seven are constant, various sources confirm. A Polish government spokesman announced that Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had already called Michel, who was holding talks with the countries.
For his part, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell reported that he held a telephone conversation with the G7 foreign ministers this Saturday to “exchange views on the situation in Russia”. After the meeting, a US State Department spokesman noted that US chief of diplomacy Antony Blinken “reiterated that support for Ukraine will not change” and that Washington will maintain “close coordination” with its allies and Partners will maintain “Situation evolving” in Russia.
At the EU level, Borrell has also activated the Twenty-Seven Crisis Response Center. Several capitals have also convened their crisis teams, including Berlin. Both Estonia and Latvia have announced the “strengthening” of their borders with Russia, but assure that there is currently no “direct threat” to their countries. Beyond contacts with community partners, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has indicated that she is also in close “coordination” with her neighbors Finland, Latvia and Lithuania.
Although “the situation is serious,” as Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, pointed out in a tweet, there are currently no plans to physically hold an emergency meeting at the European level. In any case, foreign ministers will convene in Luxembourg this Monday and the heads of state and government of the 27 will meet in Brussels at the end of the week for the last Swedish-led European Council before Spain takes over the presidency of the EU in July.
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Dialogue between allies
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden has been aware of the situation since Friday afternoon when the first information about it became known. Biden plans to spend this weekend at Camp David, Maryland. “We are closely monitoring the situation and will be consulting with allies and partners on these events,” said Adam Hodge, spokesman for the White House National Security Council. NATO is also “monitoring the situation” in Russia, Atlantic Alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu bluntly told Portal.
In statements to the BBC, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak avoided answering questions about whether what happened was a “coup” against Putin, limiting himself to “holding all parties to account and protecting civilians”. . For the UK MoD, “what has happened represents the greatest challenge facing the Russian state in recent memory.” “In the hours ahead, the loyalty of the Russian security forces, and in particular the Russian National Guard, will be critical to how this crisis unfolds “, it said in a statement. The British government’s crisis cabinet, COBRA, which brings together state departments and the security and intelligence services, met this Saturday to conduct a direct follow-up of the situation in Russia.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was also preparing to convene a meeting of intelligence ministers to monitor the “chaos” the situation is causing in Russia. The crisis team was also convened in Berlin and is meeting in the Foreign Ministry under the direction of State Secretary Andreas Michaelis, a spokesman for this department assures EL PAÍS.
Caution for European citizens in Russia
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said there was no reason to worry about Italians living in Russia at this time, but said they had been “advised to be cautious”.
The German Foreign Ministry has already tightened its travel warnings for Russia. The updated text on its website now recommends avoiding “due to current events” the administrative areas bordering Ukraine “and in particular the city of Rostov and its environs”. “In Moscow, state institutions, especially military ones, should be avoided as much as possible. The city center should be avoided until further notice,” the Foreign Office’s recommendation continues, which also advises to always follow the instructions of the Russian security authorities.
The Czech Republic, which is also closely monitoring the situation, has issued a similar travel warning through a statement by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky: “In view of the ongoing military invasion of Ukraine and the possible threat of erosion given the security situation in the country, in particular.” Citizens of EU and NATO countries remain our urgent warning against travel to the Russian Federation,” he said.
The British Foreign Office has also warned travelers that the instability triggered by the Wagner uprising this Friday could spread across the country.
With information from Miguel Jiménez from Washington, Rafael de Miguel from London, Lorraine Pacho from Rome and Elena G. Sevillano from Berlin.
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