European Council Head: EU Cannot Offer ‘Olive Branch’ to Russia over Ukraine | Farsnews Agency

(FNA)- The European Union cannot offer an “olive branch” while Russia continues to amass troops along the Ukrainian border, the president of the European Council said on Sunday.

“We cannot forever offer an olive branch while Russia conducts missile tests and continues to amass troops,” Charles Michel stated in a speech at the Munich Security Conference, Anadolu news agency reported.

He added that Moscow's actions reflect a “paradox” since they showed signs of seeking a dialogue with Western allies while continuing with a military buildup.

Michel, who presides over the meeting of EU heads of states and governments, stressed that “our unity has been cemented, both within the EU and across the Atlantic” in face of the Russian threat.

Michel said the Russian attempt to “weaken Western and European support for Ukraine is a miscalculation".

He added the EU approved a €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) macro-financial assistance package for Kyiv. He also recently proposed an international donor conference to support Ukraine.

Brussels is committed to imposing new sanctions on Moscow if Russia attacks Ukraine, even though there would be an enormous cost for EU nations, he continued.

Michel admitted that economic measures imposed on the Kremlin would not be painless for EU citizens.