The meeting of the EU Permanent Representatives to discuss sanctions against Russia ended after the recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk and the sending of Russian troops to the region as a “peace mission”.
During it, the “determination to impose targeted sanctions against those involved, in close coordination with our partners and allies” was stressed. A second meeting will follow in the late afternoon.
In particular, the French Presidency states:
“Unity in the EU’s position as a reaction to Russian decisions.
-Determination to impose targeted sanctions on those involved, in close coordination with our partners and allies.
-Agreement for a quick schedule.
-New meeting COREPER II (Committee of Permanent Representatives) at the end of the day “.
“This afternoon the Council will decide on the sanctions that we will adopt (…) we must act quickly and swiftly this afternoon, here in Paris,” EU High Representative Josep Borrell said earlier. He estimated that sanctions against Russia would be adopted unanimously.
Zelensky: Terminate Nord Stream 2
For its part, Moscow has demanded that Donetsk and Lugansk be recognized with “immediate sanctions”, including the final termination of Nord Stream 2, for its part by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In particular, he demanded that work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany be stopped. The pipeline was completed last September, but has not yet started operating.
The Ukrainian president said that a full-scale conflict with Russia was unlikely, but said he was ready to declare martial law in the country if that happened.
Boris Johnson: Russia has completely torn apart international law
In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his government would immediately impose a package of financial sanctions on Russia, while Putin said he was preparing for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking after the COBRA meeting in Downing Street to coordinate Britain’s response to Moscow’s recognition of Donbass’s independence, Johnson initially said the Russian leader had violated international law and had violated Ukrainian law. also essentially denounce the Minsk process.
“International law has been completely torn apart,” Johnson said, adding that Vladimir Putin “is determined to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” which he described as “absolutely catastrophic.”
He added that Britain would now impose an “immediate package of international sanctions” that would include certain interests in Russia. “We will target Russian economic interests as hard as we can,” Johnson said, as well as “financial interests that support the Russian war machine.” However, he referred to the details in the announcements that will be made later in the House of Commons.
However, he hinted that the sanctions that will be announced today will not be the full package, as stricter measures will be imposed if there is a full invasion. “Do not doubt that if Russian companies are prevented from raising capital in the British financial markets, if we peel off the face of Russian corporate and property ownership, it will start to hurt,” he added.
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