European
Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels have agreed to impose new sanctions
over Russia's alleged involvement in the Ukraine conflict. This will see an
already existing "blacklist" of individuals expanded.
Deutsche Welle, 29 Jan 2015
The
European Union's foreign policy coordinator, Federica Mogherini, told reporters
in Brussels on Thursday that she and the bloc's 28 foreign ministers had agreed
to draw up a new list of people to be targeted by sanctions within the next
week. She said the final decision to implement the sanctions, which amount to
asset freezes and a ban on those listed entering the EU, would be taken at a
further meeting of the foreign ministers, on February 9.
She said
they had also agreed to do preparatory work for other possible future
"appropriate action."
"We
have shown that the EU is ready to take further measures and to prepare further
measures in the weeks to come if the situation doesn't improve," Mogherini
said.
German
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also noted that more action, beyond
extending the "blacklist" of Russian and Ukrainian citizens accused
of supporting pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine, could be possible in the
future.
"If
there were large military offensives, for example with widespread assaults on
Mariupol, a clear reaction would be needed," Steinmeier said, referring to
the port city where 30 civilians were killed and dozens of others wounded inrocket attacks on Saturday.
'Strong
signal' to Russia
EU
countries have, however, ruled out a military response to the conflict.
The EU
imposed the first visa bans and asset freezes against officials it saw as
involved in Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
Dutch
Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said the decision on Thursday to extend that
list has been unanimous and sent "a strong signal toward Russia."
There had
been concern earlier in the day that Greece's new foreign minister, Nikos
Kotzias, might oppose the measures, which require unanimous approval. Earlier
in the week, Syriza - the dominant force in Athens' new far-left and far-right
coalition - complained that the EU had announced plans to consider fresh
sanctions against Russia without first consulting Greece's incoming government.
Fresh talks
in Minsk
The
Belarusian foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it would host
representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian governments, as well as the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in a new round of
talks on Friday aimed at ending the bloodshed in Ukraine.
"The
contact group on Ukraine has informed the Belarusian side of its intention to
hold its next meeting in Minsk on January 30," a statement released by the
foreign ministry said.
It wasn't
immediately clear whether representatives of the pro-Russian separatists
fighting against Kyiv's forces in eastern Ukraine would take part.
pfd/msh (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)
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