The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, called on the Europeans on Monday to continue with the sanctions against Moscow and to “stand firm” in the face of rising energy and food prices, consequences of the war in Ukraine.

“This is a stress test for our societies,” he said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

“I am sure that (Russian President Vladimir) Poutine compte sur la fatigue des democrates. I am sure that democrats are feasible. European and peuvent societies are allowed to be fatiguées,” he says. .

European leaders are concerned that hostility to Western sanctions against Moscow is growing in public opinion, while fuel, gas and electricity prices soar in Europe.

“Putting pressure on the economy of Russia”

“European companies and the governments of the Member States of the European Union must continue to defend the decisions they have taken”, insisted Josep Borrell, referring to the sanctions that must “continue to put pressure on the Russian economy, knowing that there is no a miracle solution.

“We have to do this, just like we have to support Ukraine militarily,” he continued.

“Of course there is an increase in the prices of energy and food products. This is the direct consequence of this war”, acknowledged the head of European diplomacy. “Fortunately we were not bombed, we did not have to leave our houses. But the whole world is suffering the consequences of this war,” he said.