The EU agrees on sanctions against Russia over Ukraine
The EU has agreed on sanctions that will be quickly applied as Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine intensifies. The EU will not introduce sanctions in advance because they are a reservation for Russia.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation of Spain, Jose Manuel Alvarez Bueno, stated this during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba in Kyiv.
According to him, the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
“Unity in dialogue is also based on unity if there is a need for warning and prevention. We have already agreed with our European partners on some important sanctions that will be implemented soon in the event of military aggression against Ukraine. Of course, this is not the scenario we would like to see, but we are ready for it and ready for it together”, - Jose Manuel Alvarez Bueno said.
He stressed that the EU’s goal is to find solutions that will protect the security of all European countries.
“I want to emphasize once again that these sanctions will not be implemented in advance. They are a warning. Our goal is to find solutions that will protect the security of all European states. We also defend the principles on which international law is based - the sovereignty, the territorial integrity of states, the prohibition of the use of force”, - he stressed.
He also noted that he was concerned about the concentration of Russian troops near Ukraine’s border.
“But we are convinced that this situation needs to be resolved through dialogue”, - Bueno said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked his Spanish counterpart for his readiness to impose sanctions if necessary. And also for the sanctions that Spain supported in 2014 for the occupation of Crimea and aggression in the Donbas.
Kuleba noted that the crisis between Russia and Ukraine could be resolved through diplomacy because EU sanctions are also part of the diplomatic path. The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Russia had already violated international law and the Minsk agreements and this provided a basis for imposing sanctions.
"Some sanctions could have been imposed earlier as well as right now in order to demonstrate the seriousness of intentions and readiness for decisive action", - Kuleba said.
Follow us on Telegram
