Spark Could Set Off Ukraine Escalation 04/20 06:17

   The European Union's foreign policy chief said Monday that in the face of 
the big military buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine's borders, it will only 
take "a spark" to set off a confrontation.

   BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union's foreign policy chief said Monday that 
in the face of the big military buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine's 
borders, it will only take "a spark" to set off a confrontation.

   In a glum assessment of relations with Moscow, Josep Borrell also said that 
the condition of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was 
"critical" and that the 27-nation group would hold the Kremlin accountable for 
his health and safety.

   Despite the developments, Borrell said after a virtual meeting of the EU 
foreign ministers that, "for the time being, there is no move in the field of 
more sanctions" to be imposed on Russia.

   He also said there wasn't a request for a synchronized EU diplomatic move of 
expulsions in the standoff between Czech Republic, an EU member state, and 
Russia following Prague's accusation that Moscow was involved in a 2014 
ammunition depot explosion.

   More dangerous at this time, Borrell said, was the massing of Russian 
troops, including military field hospitals, and "all kinds of warfare."

   "It is the highest military deployment of the Russian army on the Ukrainian 
borders ever. It's clear that it's a matter of concern when you deploy a lot of 
troops," Borrell said. "Well, a spark can jump here or there."

   Initially, Borrell told reporters that "there's more than 150,000 Russian 
troops massing on the Ukrainian borders and in Crimea," and doubled down on the 
figure later before his services had to correct it in the transcript, saying 
the real figure was over 100,000.

   Nevertheless, Borrell said that "the risk of further escalation -- it's 
evident."

   Borrell declined to say where he got the initial 150,000 Russian troop 
number from, but called it "my reference figure." It was higher than the 
110,000 estimate provided by Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran on 
Wednesday.

   More than 14,000 people have died in seven years of fighting between 
Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that erupted 
after Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The EU has 
steadfastly opposed the annexation but has been unable to do anything about it.

   Efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled and violations of a 
shaky truce have become increasingly frequent in recent weeks across Ukraine's 
eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas.

   Diplomats had expected there was little to no chance of immediate new 
sanctions on Moscow, but they now will seek to apply more pressure nevertheless 
through diplomacy.

   "Moscow must switch from provocation to cooperation," German Foreign 
Minister Heiko Maas said.

   And over the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron said that while 
dialogue with Russia is essential, "clear red lines" carrying possible 
sanctions must also be drawn with Moscow over Ukraine.

   "All in all, the relations with Russia, are not improving, but the contrary, 
the tension is increasing in different fronts," Borrell said.

   "We call on Russia to withdraw their troops," Borrell said.