Russia, EU Should Tackle Common Threats Together - General Staff Academy

Only joint security efforts could help build a new, mutually beneficial security system for Europe that would be convenient for everyone, the head of the Russian Armed Forces' general staff military academy said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — There are no ideological barriers between Russia and the European Union but thy have growing common threats, Sergei Makarov, head of the Russian Armed Forces' general staff military academy said Thursday.

"It's inappropriate to talk about European and Russian security separately, as if we were at opposite poles… We have not had ideological barriers between us for a long time but there are growing common threats and dangers," Makarov said at the Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS).

He added that only joint security efforts could help build a new, mutually beneficial security system for Europe that would be convenient for everyone.

At the same time, creating such a security system would require the involvement of world powers, especially the United States and China, Makarov noted.

The head of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia also underscored that today, the concept of European security has become more complex, with a greater emphasis on anti-terrorist activities, and especially energy security, among others.