A Russian nuclear strike in opposition to Ukraine would set off "such a strong reply" from the West that the Russian military could be "annihilated," stated Josep Borrell, the EU's overseas coverage chief.
His feedback are available in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's more and more combative rhetoric.
After signing a partial mobilisation decree to spice up the Russian military ranks on 21 September, Putin warned NATO that his nation had "varied technique of destruction" at its disposal to defend its "territorial integrity."
"It isn't a bluff," Putin stated.
In blunt remarks on Thursday, Borrell immediately replied to the Russian chief's threats.
"There may be the nuclear risk, and Putin is saying he isn't bluffing. Effectively, he can not afford bluffing," Borrell stated throughout a European Diplomatic Academy occasion in Bruges.
"It needs to be clear that the individuals supporting Ukraine and the European Union and the member states, and america and NATO will not be bluffing neither."
"And any nuclear assault in opposition to Ukraine will create a solution -- not a nuclear reply however such a strong reply from the army aspect -- that the Russian military will probably be annihilated, and Putin shouldn't be bluffing," he stated.
Borrell spoke of a "critical second of historical past" and painted a grim image of profound uncertainty and instability for international politics on account of Russia's invasion.
The diplomat stated the present rules-based system was being "challenged like by no means earlier than".
"We're undoubtedly out of the Chilly Battle and the post-Chilly Battle. The post-Chilly Battle has ended with the Ukrainian struggle, with the Russian aggression in opposition to Ukraine," he instructed the viewers.
"This struggle is altering plenty of issues, and positively it's altering the European Union. This struggle will create a unique European Union, from completely different views."
Borrell additionally described Europe as a "backyard" of political freedom and financial prosperity however added the remainder of the world was largely a "jungle."
"The jungle may invade the backyard. The gardeners ought to maintain it, however they won't defend the backyard by constructing partitions. A pleasant small backyard surrounded by excessive partitions with a view to stop the jungle from coming in isn't going to be an answer. As a result of the jungle has a powerful progress capability, and the wall won't ever be excessive sufficient with a view to defend the backyard," he stated.
"The gardeners should go to the jungle. Europeans should be way more engaged with the remainder of the world."
Requested about Borrell's feedback on nuclear annihilation, a European Fee spokesperson stated a Russian nuclear strike in opposition to Ukraine could be a "whole game-changer" and that EU nations have been getting ready for any potential state of affairs.
'I needs to be the best-informed man on the planet'
This isn't the primary time this week that Borrell delivers a surprisingly candid message.
On Monday, the diplomat declared the EU's period of dependencies, together with on low-cost Russian gasoline, to be over and stated the bloc's delicate energy was dwindling.
"The US took care of our safety [...] China and Russia offered the idea of our prosperity. It is a world that's not there," he instructed the annual convention of EU ambassadors.
Borrell spoke of a world below a "messy multipolarity" structured round US-China competitors which co-exists inside a broader divide between democracies and authoritarian regimes.
"On our aspect, there are plenty of authoritarian regimes. We can not say 'we're the democracies,' and those which observe us are additionally democracies -- that isn't true," he stated.
The EU's overseas coverage chief confessed that European nations didn't consider Russia was going to launch the full-scale invasion, regardless of repeated warnings from US officers.
"We didn't consider that this was going to occur, and we didn't foresee that Ukraine was prepared to withstand as fiercely and as efficiently as they're doing," he stated.
In what was arguably essentially the most stunning second of the speech, Borrell publicly berated the EU ambassadors current on the occasion for not reporting quick sufficient about developments of their respective nations.
"Generally, I knew extra of what was occurring someplace by studying the newspapers than studying your stories. Your stories come generally too late," he instructed the ambassadors.
"Having all of you around the globe, I needs to be the perfect knowledgeable particular person on the planet -- at the very least as a lot as any International Affairs Minister. I'm 'International Affairs Minister of Europe'. Behave as you'd behave should you have been an embassy."
Talking on the identical convention, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen praised the ambassadors for doing "wonderful work" on the bottom.
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