Brussels, 27/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - In a joint press release on Tuesday 27 January, the heads of state and government threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia. They condemned the murder of civilians during the indiscriminate shelling of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on 24 January, and they said they were concerned at the worsening of the security and humanitarian situation in East Ukraine (see EUROPE 11239).
“In view of the worsening situation, we ask the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council to assess the situation and to consider any appropriate action, in particular on further restrictive measures, aiming at swift and comprehensive implementation of the Minsk agreements”, the European leaders stated in their press release. Their foreign ministers are holding an emergency meeting during the afternoon of Thursday 29 January. The heads of government recalled their conclusions of 18 December, in which they stated that the EU was going “to stay the course” and that they were “ready to take further steps if necessary” (see EUROPE 11221).
In their joint statement, the leaders noted “evidence of continued and growing support given to the separatists by Russia, which underlines Russia's responsibility”. “We urge Russia to condemn the separatists' actions and to implement the Minsk agreements”, they added.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini was continuing her contacts in preparation for the Council on 29 January. She again spoke to Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, on the phone, and also had a phone conversation with the US secretary of state, John Kerry. European and American sanctions against Russia have thus far been coordinated.
Lithuania's foreign minister, Linas Linkevicius, who has called for further sanctions, has also said that he would like the people's republics of Lugansk and Donetsk to be considered by the EU as terrorist organisations. The Ukrainian Parliament has just done this. “Let's call a spade a spade”, it said.
European Parliament rapporteur is not welcome in Russia. European Parliament President Martin Schulz announced on Monday 26 January that Gabrielius Landsbergis (EPP, Lithuania), the Parliament's rapporteur for Russia, has been warned by the Russian authorities that he is not welcome in Russia. Landsbergis was due to visit Russia on 29-31 January. Schulz said he told the Russian ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, that such a decision was counterproductive. “I urged him to reconsider his decision, given the importance of the visit for both parties”, Schulz stated. (CG)