EU Foreign Ministers called for dialogue with Russia on Monday 24 January, while warning Moscow, if there were to be an attack on Ukraine, that the price that it would pay would be considerable.
After the EU Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called for dialogue. “Diplomacy to convince Russia to engage in dialogue will continue, even if the harsh rhetoric from the Russian side does not give much hope”, he told the media.
“We are ready to discuss with Russia, which should ease tensions and withdraw its unacceptable proposals on the reorganisation of the whole security order in Europe”, explained Danish Minister Jeppe Kofod on his arrival.
These words echo the conclusions adopted by the Ministers, which include the 10 principles adopted in Brest. They condemn Russia’s continued aggressive actions and threats against Ukraine and call on Moscow to de-escalate, respect international law and engage in constructive dialogue within the framework of established international mechanisms. “Notions of ‘spheres of influence’ have no place in the 21st century”, the EU Council said.
The institution also sets out its red lines: the fundamental principles underpinning European security, enshrined in the UN Charter and the founding documents of the OSCE, including the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris, “are neither negotiable nor subject to revision or reinterpretation”.
According to the EU Council, Member States are also ready to engage in strengthening existing mechanisms for military transparency and predictability and to support arms control efforts, including in the framework of the OSCE, calling on Russia to engage constructively.
International coordination
After meeting with Ministers at the EU Council via video conference with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, the High Representative reiterated that the EU would continue to coordinate with its partners. The adopted conclusions therefore reaffirm “the continued strong cooperation and coordination of the EU and its Member States with the United States, NATO, Ukraine and our other partner countries”.
The Europeans, however, do not follow the Americans regarding the departure of the families of diplomats posted in Ukraine. The High Representative said that there was no need to “dramatise” the situation. “As long as the negotiations continue, I don’t think we should leave Ukraine”, he explained, adding that no decision had been taken to ask for the families to leave.
However, France and Latvia have called on their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine.
Unprecedented threat of sanctions
While the emphasis is on dialogue, the High Representative warned that, should diplomacy fail, “we are well advanced in our response to Russian aggression”.
“Any further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have massive consequences and high costs. This includes a wide array of sectoral and individual restrictive measures that would be adopted in coordination with partners”, the EU Council warns in its conclusions.
While the text refers to military aggression, Swedish Minister Ann Linde said that any type of intrusion, including from cyberspace, could be subject to a European response.
“There is no doubt that we are ready to react with comprehensive economic and political sanctions never seen before”, the Danish Minister warned, adding that Russia would be isolated. According to his Austrian counterpart, Alexander Schallenberg, “in terms of financial sanctions and trade in goods, everything is on the table”.
For the Lithuanian Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergisthe sanctions will have to be “unbearable” for Russia, otherwise they will not be dissuasive.
Unwavering support for Ukraine
The Ministers also stressed their support for Ukraine and the importance of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. The EU Council conclusions reaffirm its full support for the efforts of France and Germany in the Normandy format. According to a Russian source quoted by Reuters, talks in Normandy format between political advisers will take place on Wednesday.
Mr Borrell also highlighted the announcement a few hours earlier by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding further financial assistance to Kiev. She announced that the EU institution was proposing a further €1.2 billion in macrofinancial assistance to help Ukraine meet its “conflict-related financial needs”. By the end of October 2021, the Commission had disbursed the second tranche of an ongoing macrofinancial assistance (see EUROPE 12819/13).
Mrs von der Leyen added that the Commission would “soon” prepare additional longer-term macrofinancial assistance to help the country in its “modernisation efforts”. In addition, bilateral grant aid will be doubled this year, she said. And to recalled that, since 2014, the EU has provided more than €17 billion in grants and loans to Ukraine, “a free and sovereign country”.
The EU Council also recalls in its conclusions the EU’s commitment to support Ukraine’s resilience, including by combating cyber and hybrid threats and tackling disinformation. The possibility of a training mission is also mentioned, with the EU “currently defining modalities of support to Ukraine also in the area of professional military education”.
While the conclusions reaffirm the unity of the EU27, the issue of arms deliveries - which is not an EU competence - is divisive. The Baltic States announced that they would send anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine to enable it to defend itself “in case of Russian aggression”. Germany, for its part, refused to deliver arms to Kiev, but said it would deliver a field hospital.
See the conclusions: https://bit.ly/357lJBh (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Mathieu Bion)