Brussels, 26/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 February, European Council President Donald Tusk and the leader of the European Parliament's ALDE Group, Guy Verhofstadt, underlined the need to set up a new strategy towards Russia.
“A more proactive strategy is needed”, Tusk told the European Parliament in Brussels, saying that the heads of state and government will discuss such a strategy at the European Council in March. “The unity [of member states] can't replace a strategy. We need a strategy, but without unity there can be no strategy, no chance to succeed”, Tusk said, adding that he was “deeply convinced that one of the biggest objectives” of Russia's President Vladimir Putin was “to divide Europe and the whole international community”.
Verhofstadt advocated a strategy of action, rather than of reaction. “Tusk has said that the agreements have been violated 800 times. This deserves reflection. Is the current strategy on Russia good? We spend our time reacting (…) We must move from a strategy based on reaction to a strategy based on prevention”, Verhofstadt stated. “To avoid fresh violation of the Minsk II agreement, we must act now and prepare a new series of sanctions, which we can impose immediately if this Russian aggression continues”, he said.
Tusk also stated that the additional sanctions in connection with the Ukrainian crisis were “an option that continued”. “There are discussions between the leaders on how to support implementation of the Minsk II agreement. If it does not hold, we will not hesitate to take the measures needed (…) The EU is united on this issue and will hold its course. Further sanctions remain on the table. We will have to be ready for any development - good or bad”, Tusk said. “I hope that peace can be restored, but I'm sceptical”, he admitted. On 20 February, Tusk brandished the threat of new sanctions on Russia (see EUROPE 11258) (our translation throughout). (Camille-Cerise Gessant)