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The European Union has threatened Russia with “political consequences and a high economic cost” if it invades Ukraine after a meeting of community foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
“The EU is united in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. All ministers were very clear that any aggression against Ukraine would come with political consequences and a very high economic cost to Russia,” said High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell after the meeting. .
He added that the EU maintains close contact with other G7 countries and that the issue of the EU’s response to possible military action by Russia will be discussed by European leaders at their regular meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
Borrell explained that the EU was trying to avoid a deepening crisis and prevent the start of hostilities, “because once they start, it is difficult to stop”.
“The situation is expect the best, prepare for the worst,” Borel said.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Angela Logar said Monday’s meeting did not discuss specific sanctions against Russia, but only discussed the possibility of preparing them if necessary.
European foreign ministers approved sanctions against Russian paramilitary group Wagner for its actions, including in Ukraine.
European ambassadors will begin work on a new sanctions regime against Turkey over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s intention to revive the coastal city of Varosha, which is located in Turkish-recognized Northern Cyprus. The ambassadors will have to assess the various options for action and start working on a specific sanctions regime, Borel said.
The foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Belarus, assessing the success of limiting migrant pressure on Poland and Lithuania.
“Lukashenko has not achieved his goal with migration and now he is the one who has problems,” Borel said, adding that the EU had proved successful because it had acted together. At the same time, the High Representative noted that the situation with the domestic opposition in Belarus is deteriorating, with the number of political prisoners exceeding 9,000.
The European Commission announced on Monday that it will provide another 30m euros in support of independent media, NGOs and small businesses working abroad. This happened after the leader of the Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tsikhanovska called on the EU to keep its word and work against Alexander Lukashenko. Tikhanovska was also received on Sunday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic said it was calming the migration situation along the Polish-Belarusian border for now he will not send the 150 soldiers, which Warsaw has asked for help in guarding the border and building a wire fence, hoping to reduce illegal entry.
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