BRUSSELS — The European Union took a cautious approach to imposing
sanctions against Moscow today (March 17), targeting 21 people in Russia
and Crimea while leaving open the possibility of adding harsher
economic measures when EU leaders meet later this week.
Those targeted include politicians responsible for calling for and organising yesterday’s referendum in Crimea, when 97 per cent of voters decided the region should secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The EU says the referendum was illegal and does not recognise the result.
“More ... measures in a few days,” Lithuanian Foreign
Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Twitter, after announcing the
decision taken by EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
His Czech counterpart, Mr Lubomir Zaoralek, said earlier that any decisions taken today would be the “first set”.
“I would not rule out that this list can be widened at the next meeting of the Council,” he said, referring to an EU summit on Thursday and Friday.
European officials have said they are determined to punish Russia for its actions in Crimea, imposing sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes on those responsible. The United States was taking similar steps today.
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Related:
Those targeted include politicians responsible for calling for and organising yesterday’s referendum in Crimea, when 97 per cent of voters decided the region should secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The EU says the referendum was illegal and does not recognise the result.
His Czech counterpart, Mr Lubomir Zaoralek, said earlier that any decisions taken today would be the “first set”.
“I would not rule out that this list can be widened at the next meeting of the Council,” he said, referring to an EU summit on Thursday and Friday.
European officials have said they are determined to punish Russia for its actions in Crimea, imposing sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes on those responsible. The United States was taking similar steps today.
- However, EU sanctions require unanimity among all 28 member states and there are several countries, including Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Portugal, that have reservations about moving too quickly.
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Related:
Deputy PM and FM Venizelos’ statement on the situation in Ukraine and yesterday’s referendum in Crimea. -Hellenic MoFA
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Sanktionen gegen Russland Amerika und EU bestrafen Putin ....
ReplyDelete17.03.2014 · Die EU hat Sanktionen gegen 21 Verantwortliche in Russland und auf der Krim verhängt. Sie werden mit Einreiseverboten und Kontosperrungen belegt. Die Strafmaßnahmen der Vereinigten Staaten treffen sieben Russen und vier Ukrainer. FAZ.NET nennt die Namen. ......http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/europaeische-union/sanktionen-gegen-russland-amerika-und-eu-bestrafen-putin-12850644.html
17/3/14
US warns of further sanctions on Russia if Crimea formally annexed ....
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON - Russia could face additional sanctions if it proceeds with formal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region or takes further military action in Ukraine, a senior US official said on Monday.
There is "concrete evidence" that some ballots arrived "pre-marked" in Sunday's secession referendum in Crimea and other voting anomalies were also detected, another US official said after Washington announced visa bans and asset freezes on 11 Russian and Ukrainian officials.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/US-warns-of-further-sanctions-on-Russia-if-Crimea-formally-annexed-345612
17/3/14
French ministers of defense and foreign affairs defer visit to Russia to later date...
ReplyDeleteFrench Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian delayed their working visit to Russia for a later date that was slated on March 18, news TV channel BFM reported on Monday.
In his words, the delay of the visit “is caused by the situation in Crimea.”
The spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry neither confirmed nor denied this report to Itar-Tass. Laurent Fabius is expected to make a statement on this issue in the evening news show on first French TV channel after 11 p.m. Moscow time (19:00 GMT) on Monday.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/724021
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