Ukraine conflict
EU threatens Putin with sanctions for recognizing separatist areas
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced sanctions against Russia
© JOHN THYS / AFP
The EU wants to use sanctions against Russia’s recognition of the self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” of Luhansk and Donetsk. After a threat from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Commission President von der Leyen and Council President Michel announced this step.
The EU has threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin with sanctions if he recognizes the separatist areas in eastern Ukraine as independent. The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday after the foreign council in Brussels that in this case he would “put punitive measures against Russia on the table”. The EU states would then have to decide on this.
Comprehensive economic and financial sanctions against Russia prepared
“We call on President Putin to respect international law and the Minsk agreements and not to recognize the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk districts,” said Borrell after around ten hours of consultations with the EU foreign ministers. The Kremlin has since announced that Putin wants to recognize the pro-Russian separatist areas.
According to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU has already prepared comprehensive economic and financial sanctions. They are to be triggered in close consultation with the USA and other western partners.
Later on Monday evening, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel said the EU would respond with sanctions to Russia’s decision to recognize the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. The punitive measures should hit those who were involved in the act.
Note: This article has been updated.