Brussels, 15/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 14 April, the EU foreign affairs ministers decided to strengthen the targeted sanctions against those responsible for the Ukrainian crisis. “The Council decides on expanding the list of those subject to assets freeze and visa ban”, the ministers state in their conclusions. Until now, 33 people have had sanctions taken out upon them due to the events in Ukraine. According to Irelands' Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore, the extension of sanctions might not only concern people but “also include other entities”. “It is very hard to believe after recent events that Russia shares those objectives [of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity]. (…) it is important to have a response and we have agreed among foreign ministers to expand the sanctions - the second tier of sanctions - and to add further names to those sanctions”, said his UK counterpart, William Hague, who added that the European Commission had assured that preparatory work on the third tier of sanctions was “almost complete”.
In their conclusions, the ministers condemn the actions of armed men in the towns of Eastern Ukraine. “These attempts at destabilising Ukraine must come to an end”, the Council states, calling on all parties “to engage in a dialogue in view of a peaceful solution”.
The Council calls on Moscow to support the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and “to repudiate the latest lawless acts in Eastern Ukraine and to contribute to stabilise the situation”. It calls on Russia to recall its troops posted on the Ukrainian border and immediately to withdraw the mandate of the Federation Council allowing the use of force on Ukrainian soil. “Any threat or use of force against Ukraine or any other countries is not acceptable and must stop immediately”, the ministers add. Russia's President Vladimir Putin refutes the accusations of Moscow's interference in the events in Eastern Ukraine. Calling on all the parties for the greatest restraint, the EU ministers commend the Ukrainian authorities for pursuing their law and order operations “in a measured manner” and encourage the government in Kiev “to contribute further to reducing tensions”.
The EU also reaffirms the importance of Russia's and Ukraine's commitment to a “constructive dialogue” and welcomes the meeting planned in Geneva on 17 April between Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov, Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Dechtchitsa, US Secretary of State John Kerry and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. In the view of the EU foreign affairs ministers, this meeting is “a possible start of a substantial de-escalation process”. The Ukrainian economic situation could also be examined during this meeting, they state. The EU ministers call on Russia to demonstrate with supportive measures its readiness to participate in stabilising the Ukrainian economy.
Underlining that it is ready to help Ukraine in the field of civilian security sector reform, support of police and rule of law, the Council tasks the European External Action Service to deploy an expert mission to prepare for “appropriate assistance” complementary with other on-going efforts and to work on a political framework for crisis approach (PFCA), examining all options, including through a possible CSDP mission, “with a view to a decision on further EU action at its next meeting”. The next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council is planned for 12 May.
The Council also encourages Ukraine to continue to move ahead in its course of political reforms, and looks forward to implementation of the parliamentary resolution calling for the immediate disarmament of all illegal self-defence forces. “The Council strongly supports the holding of free and fair presidential elections on 25 May. The EU member states will actively participate in the OSCE observation mission”, the EU ministers add. They reaffirm the EU's commitment to signing the parts of the association agreement that have not yet been signed, “as soon as possible after the presidential elections”. (CG)