Europe is coming under increasing pressure to initiate sanctions against Russia. But according to EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, it is still too early for that. This threatens to create cracks in the European front, which just so emphatically wants to radiate unity.
Proponents of direct sanctions point to the aggression that Russia is already showing, including cyber attacks, the threat posed by its continued large forces along the Ukrainian border, the increasing skirmishes in eastern Ukraine and the fact that Moscow is permanently or at least for a longer period of time. time to keep troops in Belarus. “We don’t have to wait for a military attack. The attack on Ukraine has already begun,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
Arriving in Brussels this morning, where the 27 EU foreign ministers are now meeting on Ukraine, Landsberg said it “makes sense” that the Baltic countries want to be the first to roll out the sanctions: “We are the frontline states.” Landsbergis received support from his Latvian colleague Edgar Rinkevics: ,,What is happening in Donbas now is the responsibility of Russia. Just like their decision not to withdraw troops.”
Both ministers spoke openly of ‘the occupation’ of Belarus. In any case, according to their Romanian colleague Bogdan Aurescu, it is high time that Europe started communicating about the content of its sanctions package. “That can have an important deterrent effect.”
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Sanction package ready
According to EU foreign chief Borrell, the European sanctions package is ready. “The work is done. And perhaps it is important to reiterate that it is a Council competence to decide when the sanctions are applied. I will convene the Council as soon as the time comes. And we continue to hope that that moment does not come.”
I doubt they will ever leave
Many other countries think so too. “Sanctions are a punishment, you come with them because aggression has been committed,” said Austrian minister Alexander Schallenberg. He is very concerned about what he calls ‘the annexation, at least militarily’ of Belarus by Russia. “No date has been given for the withdrawal of Russian troops after their exercise there. I doubt they will ever leave.”
The 27 EU ministers will also receive their Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba today. He believes that Europe should send out much stronger signals that it will not tolerate aggression. “By starting it already, Europe can show that it is not only talking about sanctions, but also applying them.” In addition, he believes, Europe can assist Ukraine much more massively in strengthening its defense and cybersecurity.
Watch our videos on the tension between Russia and Ukraine here:
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