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Energy Prices · Geopolitical Risk · NATO · Russia-Ukraine
EU and NATO officials expressed grave concern on Monday, November 15, over Russia's significant military buildup of 90,000 troops near Ukraine's borders and in occupied territories, as Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned this is part of a broader strategy to destabilize Europe amidst the Belarus border crisis.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba highlighted Russia's increased military presence in annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine, stating this buildup, alongside soaring energy prices and disinformation campaigns, constitutes a deliberate strategy to "shatter Europe." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed a "large and unusual" concentration of Russian forces, emphasizing a reduced warning time for potential aggressive actions. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis explicitly stated an attack on Ukraine is "very likely" and warned of a possible "permanent Russian military presence in the territory of Belarus." While EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell refrained from discussing military escalation, the collective warnings from Kyiv, NATO, and some EU members underscore a heightened geopolitical risk in Eastern Europe.
