EU FEARS 'Russian AGGRESSION' in Ukraine amid World War 3 fears ahead of crunch Nato talks

RUSSIA has been told it should “immediately release” Ukrainian political prisoners as the EU heavily criticises the Putin regime following high numbers of deaths in the region.

Tusk fears of Russia aggressionDonald Tusk, the EU Council chairman, made the remarks in Brussels on Monday ahead of the most important NATO summit in years.

On Monday, Tusk said: “Russia’s image must not only depend on the organisation of football championships but on what is the reality – the substance of its politics.”

His comments are viewed as an attempt to refocus attention on the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the actions of Putin on the global stage.

Donald Tusk also held a summit with Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, as he spelt out the EU policy on Ukraine.

It continued: “We continue to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation… We remain committed to fully implement our respected non-recognition policies."

It also named six Russian political prisoners and a Ukrainian film-maker, Oleg Sentov, who is on hunger strike.

The EU has raised concerns that Donald Trump may "legitimise Russia’s violence" and attempted takeover of parts of Ukraine, saying “we’re going to have to see” whether he recognises Putin’s efforts to gain control of Crimea.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014, the EU has become more outspoken on relations between the two countries.

Next week Trump and Putin will hold a summit that will address European security as Russia has seen its image improve since hosting the World Cup finals.

Russia’s foreign relations have also been in the spotlight more recently after multiple Novichok poisonings in Salisbury.

Putin has led Russian aggressionThe Trump/Putin talks also threaten to take attention away from the NATO Summit in Brussels as hundreds are expected to arrive as part of the two leader’s delegations.

Finland has said it would increase checks on EU borders to ensure the security is high because of the size of the event.

While all eyes are on Russia for the World Cup semi-finals as England attempt to reach the final, violence continued in the region as explosions were heard in Ukraine.

The EU is attempting to calm relations between the countries and is hopeful that it can welcome Ukraine into the political-economic bloc in the future.