EU leaders discuss new package of sanctions on Russia

BRUSSELS

EU leaders gathered on Thursday evening in Brussels to hold an extraordinary summit on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

The EU heads of states and governments are expected to give political approval on the second part of the bloc's latest sanctions package after the Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.

On the way to the summit, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that EU leaders will discuss a “complex package” that involves sanctions on the economic and financial sector, export of technology, and innovation.

He explained that EU ambassadors have “more or less” agreed on the preparatory work, and if EU leaders find a political agreement during the summit, EU foreign affairs ministers will officially adopt the package on Friday.

He said that the proposals contain Russia’s exclusion from the SWIFT international payment system, but said that it is up to the EU leaders to decide on it.

The remarks came after reports that diplomats from Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus were against Russia’s disconnection from the international interbank system during the preparatory negotiations.

In his doorstep speech, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that it was “enough of cheap talking” and urged for “massive” sanctions in a “critical moment” of history” when the whole world watches the EU’s reaction.

“We have to act in a very decisive way since civilians are being killed now, every minute, every hour,” he said.

Morawiecki also implied that the bloc has to reduce its energy dependency on Russia because President Vladimir “Putin is taking the money from us, Europeans and turns it into aggression, invasion.”

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also stressed on the way to the meeting that the EU needs “prompt decisions” that have “a big impact.”

He said that he will ask for additional sanctions that “make it more difficult for Russian financial institutions to work in the global financial system.”

Ahead of the summit, the leaders issued a joint statement “strongly” condemning Russia’s "unprovoked and unjustified military actions in a joint system".

In order to show solidarity, the Ukrainian flag has been projected to the walls of the European Commission’s main building on Thursday evening.

According to EU law, the EU leaders' summit can only set out major political guidelines for action, the sanctions have to be officially approved by EU foreign ministers.

The European Union adopted the first package of sanctions against Russia for violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity on Wednesday.

The measures target among others defense minister Sergei Shoigu, two deputy prime ministers, high-ranking military officials, and 351 members of the Russian Duma.

Putin early Thursday announced a military intervention in Ukraine just days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine. The recognition drew international condemnation and announcements of tougher sanctions on Moscow.