Ukraine in Arabic | EU ministers to consider more sanctions on Russia following upsurge in violence in east Ukraine
KYIV/Ukraine in Arabic/ A leaked EU draft statement suggests that EU foreign ministers may punish Russia and Russian-backed militants after attacks have increased in eastern Ukraine over the past weeks/
The draft statement was obtained by Reuters and it shows that the bloc could extend by nine months, sanctions that target Russia and its proxies in eastern Ukraine with more asset freezes and travel bans. As Ukraine Today has reported.
The meeting was called immediately after Russian-backed insurgents escalated violence in eastern Ukraine by shelling the port city of Mariupol, killing at least 31 people. But it may be difficult to get the required unanimous consent to toughen sanctions on Russia after Greece elected a new anti-austerity government.
The new prime minister has opposed an EU statement released this week that criticised Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. Alexis Tsipras has for years kept good relations with Moscow and has traditionally supported Putin which could make slapping Russia with more sanctions, difficult for the EU.
Richard Youngs, Senior Associate at Carnegie Europe: "There have been comments that the new Greek government is using the Russia issue as a bargaining chip for its economic demands in the EU institutions. I think to some extent Greece will try to link together lots of policy issues so that increases its bargaining weight in the EU, but we should understand this is not a completely new Greek position on Russia. It's a continuation of a line that Greece has been following under the previous government over the last year, arguing that the EU shouldn't be too punitive in its response towards Russia. I think we're likely to see that line continue and develop quite separate from the issue of the new government's economic policy agenda in the EU."
EU foreign ministers will meet today to discuss new penalties on Russia overs its intervention in Ukraine and then a final decision will be made in two weeks' time.