Six E.U. countries declare readiness to increase pressure on Russia and impose new sanctions
The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, along with the E.U.’s top diplomat, issued a joint statement on Monday declaring their readiness to exert “further pressure on Russia,” including through new sanctions. It was published on the German Foreign Ministry’s website following a meeting of the ministers in Madrid.
The statement reaffirms the countries’ “unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity” and calls for a “just and lasting peace” based on the principles of the U.N. Charter and international law. The representatives of the six E.U. countries noted that Ukraine has demonstrated its commitment to peace by agreeing to a full ceasefire without preconditions, yet “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has not ceased.” According to the statement, Russia must show that it is “serious about ending its war” instead of “imposing new conditions and launching continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.”
The six E.U. countries also expressed their commitment to “[strengthening] Ukraine through significant short and long-term military support.”
“We also stand ready to apply further pressure on Russia using all tools available, including by adopting new sanctions, to hinder its ability to wage its war of aggression and to ensure Ukraine is placed in the best position possible to secure a just and lasting peace. […] Peace must be just, and Russia’s war of aggression cannot end with a reward to the aggressor,” the statement reads.
Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, and the U.K. also stated that they would not accept any agreements that “restricts Ukraine’s military and defence industry or the military presence of partner countries in Ukraine.”
According to EUobserver, the E.U. has begun working on a 17th package of sanctions against Russia, but the process is still “very early stages.” One European diplomat told the site that proposal for new sanctions are expected in early summer. However, another diplomat was skeptical about any specific timeline. “We have to see how the US-Russia-Ukraine [peace] talks unfold,” he added.
