EU foreign policy chief says Russia is a direct threat to Europe and has plan for long term aggression EU foreign policy chief says Russia is a direct threat to Europe and has plan for long term aggression On Ukraine, the European Union is doing its part here too, not least because Ukraine is Europe’s first line of defence. We know that Russia responds to strength and nothing else. We have to do more for Ukraine, for our own security too. To quote my friend Nato secretary ge neral Mark Rutte :