Borrell Arrives in Ukrainian City of Odesa on Unannounced Visit

The European Union's foreign policy service reported on Saturday that the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has arrived in Odesa, Ukraine for an unannounced visit. The service posted on social media platform X: "Josep Borrell is in the city of pottery, Odesa." In a video message released by the press service, Borrell stated, "My presence in Odesa demonstrates our military and economic support for Ukraine through our diplomatic and political activities." Borrell condemned the reunification of newly annexed regions with Russia that occurred a year ago, as well as the attacks on Odesa's port infrastructure, and openly expressed his support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Earlier, the EU foreign affairs commissioner declared that the European Union does not recognize elections in Crimea, Sevastopol, and other regions recently annexed by Russia. He added that the EU does not recognize elections in the areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia, and in Crimea and Sevastopol, pointing to "sanctions" that may be imposed on political leadership and those involved in organizing the vote. He also stated that the EU expects its international partners, including Georgia, to make efforts to "isolate Russia" in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.