S. Michel: Putin sees democracy as a pandemic

“Putin sees democracy as a pandemic. A pandemic from which he fears contamination. We must defend our values ​​and interests,” European Council President Charles Michel said in an interview with the Belgian newspaper Le Soir.

Asked what would happen if Ukraine lost and Putin set up a “puppet government” there, Michel noted that “there is a free and democratic Ukraine today, the challenge is to fight politically – and militarily for the Ukrainians – so that We are trying to support them as much as possible, including by breaking our taboos: in two weeks we have put a billion euros on the table for arms deliveries, in addition to what the Member States are doing individually. “We want to show strength. Secondly, we have activated heavy financial sanctions. We are doing our utmost and realistic without committing an act that would aggravate the conflict.” Russia is a nuclear power and we know very well that “If this conflict between NATO and Russia takes place, we will be led to World War III.”

Asked if there were any concerns about nuclear power plants, the President of the European Council said: “Of course we are still concerned. However, with technical proposals under discussion, not yet satisfactory, from the International Atomic Energy Agency, communicating strongly on the issue. By engaging with Ukraine and Russia, we are trying to avert danger. There are four nuclear facilities in Ukraine and 15 reactors. Two sites are controlled by the Russians and two by the Ukrainians, and the Russians push for a third. There are very specific problems. Problems with water and food for maintenance staff. That ‘s what we’re talking about. One might say,’ It’s wrong to talk to Putin. ‘ are the issues we have to deal with, because when you drop bombs next to a nucleus location, you can never rule out that a bomb is landing in the wrong place. ”

Source: AMPE