Brussels, 03/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - As Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko announced that he had agreed on a ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, - an announcement downplayed by Russia - the EU was continuing its work on Wednesday 3 September with a view to adopting new sanctions.
The European Commission announced that it had adopted proposals for examination by the member states - proposals “to take further important measures”. “These proposals complete those adopted on 31 July and concern access to capital markets, defence, dual-use goods and sensitive technology. The proposals will be examined by the member states”, the Commission added. Coreper discussed these proposals during the afternoon of Wednesday 3 September. “The decisions will be made taking account of developments on the ground”, said Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. The previous day, Italy's minister for foreign affairs, Federica Mogherini, had announced that the decision on the sanctions would be taken “by Friday” 5 September.
The EU acknowledged the ceasefire announcement cautiously. Kocijancic stated that the EU took note of this announcement and was awaiting more information. She reiterated that the EU had called for a mutually accepted ceasefire as part of a sustainable political solution. “If this is confirmed, it's positive”, she added. “A ceasefire is urgent”, she said, stating that the EU continued to call on Russia to stop the flow of men and weapons crossing the common border.
Kiev announces a ceasefire agreement but Moscow downplays it. Earlier in the day, Poroshenko had announced that “following the telephone conversation with the Russian president” Vladimir Putin, they had “agreed on a permanent ceasefire in Donbass”. “The parties agreed on the measures that will facilitate the establishment of peace”, he added. A few minutes later, the Kremlin downplayed the news, underlining that the presidents had not agreed on a ceasefire “because Russia is not party to the conflict”. “They discussed ways to resolve the conflict”, stated the Russian presidency. Putin stated that his position and that of Poroshenko “on the means to resolve the conflict” seemed to him “very close”. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, had announced a little earlier that the presidents were “largely in agreement” on the means to exit the crisis. “The points of view of the presidents of the two countries largely coincide on the possible means to exit this serious crisis situation”, he said. According to Putin, an agreement between Kiev and the pro-Russian separatists could “be found and fixed on 5 September, during a contact group meeting”. A human corridor for refugees, aid supplies and an exchange of prisoners should form part of the conflict resolution measures, in Putin's view. (CG)