BRUSSELS
EU Foreign Ministers agreed Thursday to impose sanctions on Ukraine after violent clashes left at least 86 people dead over the last two days.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said that the EU would freeze the assets of those responsible for the violence and impose a visa travel ban. Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said the sanctions will be issued in a couple days.
Ireland’s Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore also confirmed the decision, saying a working group has been appointed to list those responsible for the violence to impose sanctions.
Gilmore said that the EU suspended anti-riot equipment exports and that the sanctions would be adjusted according to the developments in Ukraine.
Greece’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos earlier on Thursday called for an end to the violence.
“The violence has escalated and the dead are increasing. It is an obligation to stop the violence,” Venizelos added.
“The role of the EU is crucial, as is the role of the United States and Russia. The international community has an obligation to mobilize and help the country by exercising every legal and permissible pressure so that it stands and not let developments descend into civil war," he stressed.
Dozens were killed in violent clashes on Thursday, according to a statement form Ukraine's Health Ministry.
Mass anti-government protests began in November when President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign a free trade agreement with the EU amid pressure from Russia.
Russia’s FM dubs EU sanctions against Ukraine “blackmail”
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday the EU's sanctions against Ukraine are “blackmail and double standard.”
“The (Ukrainian) opposition cannot or does not want to dissociate itself from extremists. The US lays all the blame on the Ukrainian government – this is a double standard,” said Lavrov at a press conference in Baghdad.
“The EU is also trying to discuss sanctions, at the same time there are uninvited missions coming to Ukraine. This is blackmail,” the minister added.
Foreign ministers of the European Union met in Brussels Thursday to discuss imposing sanctions on Ukraine where deadly clashes have led to dozens of deaths.
Lavrov also met his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari and discussed regional issues such as the Syrian civil war and terrorism.
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