EU: New package of sanctions against Russia after invasion of Ukraine – “Putin brings war back to Europe”

The EU condemns Russia’s “barbaric” attack and the “cynical arguments that justify it”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels today.

“A second major package of targeted sanctions against Russia will be proposed for approval to European leaders,” he said. invasion of Ukraine.

«President Putin brings war back to Europe. In these dark hours, the EU and its people stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people. “We are facing an unprecedented attack by the Russian leadership on a sovereign and independent country,” said Ursula von der Leyen.

“Russia is not only targeting Donbass and Ukraine, but it is also targeting the stability of Europe and the entire international peace order. “President Putin will be held accountable for this,” he added, according to the Athens News Agency.

The President of the Commission also stated that tonight she will present to the European leaders one for approval “mass and targeted sanctions” package.

“We will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy, excluding its access to technologies and markets that are key to the country. We will weaken Russia’s economic base and its capacity for modernization. “We will freeze Russia’s assets in the EU and stop Russian banks from accessing European financial markets.” Ursula von der Leyennoting that as with the first package of sanctions, so with the second, the EU is acting in consultation with its partners and allies, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, as well as Japan and Australia.

“President Putin is trying to go back in time to the days of the Russian Empire, but he is endangering the people of Russia,” said von der Leyen.

The Council of Europe strongly condemns the Russian military attack

Its general secretary Council of Europe Maria Pecinovich Buric strongly condemned today the Russian military attack on Ukraine, according to a statement from the Strasbourg-based group, of which Russia and Ukraine are members.

“We will quickly take the necessary measures to respond to the current situation,” she said, denouncing a “gross violation of the Statute of the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights.”

Borrell: We are going through the darkest hours of World War II

“We are going through the darkest hours of World War II,” said the EU High Representative. Josep Borrell during a statement he made from Brussels with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“A large nuclear power has attacked a neighboring country and threatens retaliation against any other state rushing to its aid,” Borrell said. “This is not only the most serious violation of international law, but also a violation of the basic principles of human coexistence. “It costs many lives with unknown consequences in front of us,” he added.

The EU High Representative stressed that at the extraordinary Summit convened by EU Council President Charles Michel, European leaders would be called upon to adopt “the strongest and toughest package of sanctions we have ever implemented”.

“We strongly urge Russia to immediately end this intolerable behavior, for which the Russian leadership will face unprecedented isolation,” Borrell said.

“We, the EU, remain the strongest group of countries in the world and this should not be underestimated,” he added.

He also noted that the EU would soon provide emergency assistance to Ukraine and deploy evacuation operations, including EU personnel, from the affected areas under Russian attack.

“The EU and its partners have made unprecedented efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to the security crisis in Russia,” Borrell said, adding that “instead of diplomacy, Russia” war”.

Finally, he called on President Putin to stop this attack and stressed that the EU would stand by the Ukrainian people.