Radoslav Sikorski: EU could have prevented war in Donbas

If the EU had reacted more strongly to Russia's annexation of Crimea, the current conflict in Donbas would not have happened.

The opinion was expressed by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in an interview with Euroactiv, Ukrainska Pravda write.

“If the EU had reacted more strongly to Russia's annexation of Crimea and adopted sanction more quickly [...], the current conflict in Donetsk, Ukraine, would not have happened,” he said.

He noted Poland wanted to be a partner of Russia before the Ukrainian conflict.

“As a neighbour of Russia, we wanted to be a partner with it as much as it is possible. We managed to establish cross-border movement with the Kaliningrad Region. Tens of thousands of Russian citizens may visit Poland without any bureaucratic formalities,” he said.

The relations changed after Russia had decided to annex Crimea and to directly engage militarily in the territory of its neighbour, according to him.

If Poland's policy towards the Ukrainian conflict is considered to be too hawkish, it's hard to describe Russia's policy, he thinks.

“If Poland is a 'hawk', than how are we to describe Russia? A 'dove' of peace?” Sikorski said commenting on his country's stance on the Ukrainian crisis.