EU agrees new sanctions on Russia, marks support for Ukraine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also said Ukraine would also benefit from EU plans to scale up European arms production and defence capabilities.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Follow topic:
BRUSSELS – Europe must support Ukraine more than ever, its foreign policy chief said on Feb 24, as the bloc agreed to impose more sanctions against Russia ahead of a flurry of meetings in Brussels, Kyiv and Washington this week.
European officials have been left flat-footed
“We have to support Ukraine right now, more than ever,” European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
The 16th package of sanctions against Russia, which the ministers agreed to on Feb 24, includes a ban on primary aluminium imports and sales of gaming consoles, as well as listing owners and operators of 74 so-called shadow fleet vessels used to evade sanctions.
Meanwhile, several EU leaders and ministers were set to be in Kyiv on Feb 24 to mark their support for Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, while France’s and Britain’s leaders
Ukraine would receive a new payment of €3.5 billion (S$4.9 billion) from the European Union in March, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in Kyiv, referring to a tranche of pre-approved aid being paid.
Dr von der Leyen said Ukraine would also benefit from EU plans to scale up European arms production and defence capabilities.
Speaking in Brussels, Ms Kallas also said she would travel to the US on Feb 25 to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to discuss EU-US relations and talks between the US and Russia on ending the war in Ukraine.
“You can discuss whatever you want with Putin, but if it comes to Ukraine and Europe, then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal,” Ms Kallas said.
Several of the foreign ministers at the Brussels meeting were wearing blue and yellow colours to mark their support for Kyiv.
Some, including Spain’s minister Jose Manuel Albares, said one should not confuse the victim, Ukraine, and the aggressor, Russia.
“It’s totally unacceptable, as the US wants to do today at the United Nations, to put the two countries on the same footing,” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said. “There is an aggressor and there is a victim.”
Ms Kallas herself said it was “clear” the “Russian narrative” was represented in what Mr Trump was saying about the Russia-Ukraine war. REUTERS
