EU has 'very tough package' of sanctions on Russia ready: Foreign policy chief

BRUSSELS

EU officials have prepared a “very tough package” of sanctions against Russia that would be immediately proposed to EU foreign ministers if Russia invades Ukraine, the EU foreign policy chief warned on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after an informal meeting on the Ukrainian crisis that EU leaders held on the margins of the European Union-African Union Summit, Josep Borrell expressed serious worries about “heavy shelling, bombing and fighting” from the frontline between Ukraine and Russia, implying that Russia might stage a false flag attack in order to justify its aggression against Ukraine.

He said Russian “disinformation to create an atmosphere on alleged attacks” along with the Russian Duma’s vote to recognize separatist Eastern Ukraine regions of Luhansk and Donetsk add up to a “package” that “increases our concerns.”

He insisted that the EU prefers a diplomatic solution to the conflict, but added that the EU has prepared a “full package of sanctions” against Russia in consultation with the US and other partners.

“If there is an aggression (against Ukraine), I will immediately call the Foreign Affairs Council to propose a package of sanctions, and I am sure we will have the unanimity required,” said Borrell.

'EU unity surprised Putin'

On the way to the EU-Africa Summit, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also underlined that the bloc will impose “more severe, more offensive” sanctions if Russian policy gets more aggressive.

He stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to divide EU countries, but “our unity surprised him.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also stressed the bloc’s unity in the face of the Russian threat and said EU leaders appreciated his efforts with French President Emmanuel Macron in holding talks with both Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president.

At the same time, Scholz mentioned that Russia still has “enough military potential” along the Ukrainian border to invade its neighbor despite its previous announcements of partial withdrawals.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis also agreed that “the risk for the European security is still critical.”

Writing on Twitter following the EU leaders’ crisis meeting, Iohannis called for dialogue seeking “a diplomatic resolution” to the conflict.

The US warned on Thursday that the Russian military buildup continued at the Ukrainian border and Moscow appears to be moving toward an imminent invasion despite its previous claim to have pulled back troops.

The US, with its European allies, has been suggesting that Russia is preparing for aggression against Ukraine after having amassed over 100,000 troops and heavy equipment in and around its neighbor.

Denying that it is preparing to invade, Russia has accused Western countries of undermining its security through NATO’s expansion towards its borders.

Over 70 European and African leaders gathered in Brussels for the two-day European Union-African Union Summit, which is meant to lay a new basis for the EU-Africa partnership.