Brussels, 19/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The escalating violence in Ukraine has forced Europeans to adopt a tougher line. On Wednesday 19 February, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton raised for the first time the possibility of introducing sanctions against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych. EU ministers for foreign affairs will meet in Brussels on Thursday 20 February for an emergency meeting to discuss sanctions against the regime of the Ukrainian president. In Kiev on Tuesday, violent clashes broke out between opposition demonstrators and the police. According to the Ukrainian Department of Health, there have been 25 deaths.
EU foreign affairs ministers will meet on the afternoon of Thursday 20 February for a special meeting to discuss Ukraine and examine possible “targeted measures”, according to a press release from European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. He spoke of financial sanctions and visa restrictions “against those responsible for violence and those using force in an excessive way”.
Before the special meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers, a meeting of the Political and Security Committee will take place. Ashton stated that “all options will be examined, including sanctions against those responsible for repression and human rights violations”. Possible measures include visa restrictions and freezing the assets of Ukrainian leaders involved in the repression, stated the chairman of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Elmar Brok.
The question of sanctions against Ukraine has not yet obtained unanimous support among the 28 member states of the EU. Belgium's foreign minister, Didier Reynders, who is personally in favour of sanctions, revealed that “there is no unanimity because a number of countries neighbouring Ukraine do not want to go down the road of sanctions because they believe it is taking a risk, a risk of seeing the regime taking an even tougher line against the opposition”. President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso said that it was hoped that EU member states “could agree on the urgent need of targeted measures against those responsible for violence or the excessive use of force”.
Franco-German views converge
Meeting in Paris, the Franco-German partnership displayed a “convergence of views” on the Ukrainian issue. It is calling for everything to be done to put an end to the violence, to adopt targeted sanctions against people who have promoted this violence and to relaunch the political dialogue in Ukraine, which this partnership believes is the only way of finding a lasting political solution, in collaboration with all the different countries concerned.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that “the stalling tactics of the Ukrainian government over the past few days has only made the situation worse. A policy that is intended simply to win time needs to end, because this puts lives in danger among the demonstrators and forces of order”. She does not believe that sanctions are an end in themselves. Referring to the position taken by Van Rompuy, “leading us to look at how we should respond to these tragic events”, French President François Hollande underlined the importance of “finding a political solution with a timeframe, method and objective while remaining in touch with neighbouring countries”. He added that “Ukraine is not in Europe but Ukraine is part of Europe” and stated that it was not about putting pressure on Ukraine to undo ties with other countries but to give Ukrainian people an opportunity to choose their own way.
Poland, like three other EU member states, shares a border with Ukraine and said that it is in favour of imposing sanctions. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that he would be addressing his European counterparts “to call on them to introduce sanctions, sanctions that should hit those responsible for the Ukrainian tragedy hard, personal and financial sanctions… This is the right moment to impose sanctions… Sanctions can be a crucial gesture of solidarity and an important signal to show those in power that their actions are unacceptable”. The president of France, following a telephone conversation with Tusk, affirmed that he agreed with the latter on “the immediate need to introduce targeted European sanctions against those mainly responsible for what is occurring”.
Carl Bildt, the Swedish foreign minister, and strong supporter of sanctions, said that the time for dialogue is over because Yanukovych “has blood on his hands”. According to the Lithuanian president, Dalia Grybauskaite, Ukraine is now “on the brink of civil war… and we must talk about imposing international sanctions”.
Fresh call for calm. Ashton, Füle and Barroso again called on all those responsible to stop the violence immediately. “It is the country's political leadership that has the responsibility of ensuring the necessary protection of fundamental freedoms and rights”, said Barroso. In the view of Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, “the delaying tactics of President Yanukovych have cost Ukraine dear”. “His refusal of serious discussions on a peaceful solution to the conflict and on constitutional reforms is a big mistake”, he said. He called for the police and the radical elements among the demonstrators to renounce their violence.
European help still holds. Barroso reiterated that the EU has offered its help to facilitate the political dialogue. In order to exit the crisis, he advocated constitutional reform, training a new government of unity, and creating the conditions for democratic elections. Barroso stated that the offer of political association and economic integration remains on the table and that “this is not the final goal of our cooperation”.
On Wednesday, Moscow criticised an “attempted coup d'état” in Ukraine and stated that it “demanded” the opposition leaders in the country stop the violence (our translation). (CG/LC/MB/transl.fl)