EU agrees to impose more sanctions on Russia after talks in Brussels
- 20 March, 13:15
The European Union leaders agreed to impose more sanctions on Russia and increase pressure on Moscow after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Brussels on March 20.
The text of the declaration adopted by the bloc on Thursday called on Russia “to show real political will to end the war” in Ukraine that started more than three years ago. The show of unity in support of Ukraine was marred by Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Urban who refused to back the declaration. Similarly, two weeks ago Orban refused to support the plan proposed by European Commission president Ursual von der Leyen to increase the bloc’s defence spending to €800bn.
In a clear reference to Orban’s efforts to hamper Ukraine’s EU accession talks, Zelenskiy said while addressing the Brussels summit: “It is simply anti-European when one person blocks decisions that are important for the entire continent or that have already been agreed upon.”
Zelenskiy also urged EU leaders not to ease pressure on Russia over its full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. “Sanctions must remain in place until Russia starts withdrawing from our land and fully compensates for the damage caused by its aggression,” Zelenskiy stressed.
There has been growing uncertainty within the European Union due to Trump administration’s lack of commitment to the transatlantic alliance. Addressing these uncertainties, Jens Stoltenberg, the former Nato secretary-general said in Brussels that this was not the reason to “give up Nato”, but a motivation for European countries and Canada to increase their contributions. Stoltenberg urged unit among Nato members.
