The 27 EU Heads of State and Government will discuss today the latest developments in Ukraine and Russiabefore the start of the EU-African Union Summit in Brussels.
An hour-long informal meeting of European leaders will take place in 1.30 p.m.. (Greek time), as the representative of the President of the European Council Charles Michel wrote on Twitter.
The Europeans are stepping up their diplomatic efforts to reach out to Moscow, while preparing to impose sanctions that would hit Russia’s economy in the event of an attack on Ukraine.
These sanctions, prepared by the European Commission, in consultation with EU Member States and in cooperation with the US, remain a top secret, but it has been announced that they are expected to focus on financial sectorits field energy and exports of high technology products.
“Do not choose war”, was the appeal of the President of the Commission, Urula von der Layen to Moscow, during her speech in the European Parliament yesterday. “The road to cooperation between the EU and Russia is still strong,” he said, noting, however, that if the Kremlin chose to use force against Ukraine, the EU’s response would be “immediate, strong and united.”
“Russia’s aggression not only endangers the stability and integrity of Ukraine, but also threatens peace in Europe and the world,” he told the European Parliament. choose between the war and the tragic sacrifices that accompany it, or the courage of political commitment and diplomatic negotiations. ” At the same time, the EU has mobilized an additional 1.2 billion euros in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine.
For his part, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said that the EU continues to strive for a diplomatic solution, while Europe is experiencing its biggest crisis since the end of the Cold War.
In addition, the 6th EU-African Union Summit is expected to begin at 3 p.m. (Greek time), with the participation of leaders of the 55 members of the African Union, in order to define a “new partnership”.
Security, health and stability are the three common challenges that Europe and Africa want to face in order to “change the game” of their relations. The economy, job creation, migration, pandemics and vaccines, climate change and digital transformation are the issues that will be addressed.
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