Not reassuring.
While the Ukrainian conflict is bogged down and now seems to be a long-term one, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, during a trip to Japan on Thursday, considered that Russia is the "greatest threat more direct" to the international order because of its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia "is today the most direct threat to the world order with the barbaric war against Ukraine, and its disturbing pact with China", said Ms von der Leyen after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida with the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
Read alsoFuture of the EU: revisions of the treaties, place of Ukraine ... What to remember from Macron's speech
The two European officials were in Tokyo on Thursday for an annual round of Japan-EU talks, this time coming amid the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and amid growing concerns in Asia about China's military ambitions.
“Russia's invasion of Ukraine is not only about Europe, but it is shaking the heart of the international order, including Asia.
This must not be tolerated,” said Mr. Kishida, whose government has joined Western sanctions against Moscow, including financial and energy ones.
“Diversify and Strengthen”
Beijing's increasingly tough stance in Asia was also on the agenda, with the European Union seeking to play a bigger role against Beijing.
"Our cooperation in Ukraine is essential in Europe, but it is also important in the Indo-Pacific region and we also want to deepen our consultations on an increasingly assertive China," Michel said.
"We believe that China must assert itself to defend the multilateral system it has benefited from to develop its country," he added.
Ms von der Leyen said the EU and Japan were strengthening their cooperation, including the launch of a digital partnership, a first for Europe, which will focus on competitiveness and security in this area.
She added that both sides would also work to “diversify and strengthen” their supply chains.
VIDEO.
Show of force in Moscow for May 9
“It's important because there are materials and technologies that have become essential to our economy and our daily lives, such as semiconductors for example.
We need to be able to rely on trustworthy supply chains,” she stressed.