BRUSSELS – The European Union says it will roll over its sanctions against Russia for its occupation of Ukraine’s Crimea for another six months, but as leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels on Dec. 13-14, there was no talk of fresh sanctions to punish the Kremlin for its latest attacks.
During the summit dinner on Dec. 13, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron briefed their fellow EU leaders on progress in achieving the Minsk peace agreements, which require Russia’s end to the war against Ukraine.
The leaders also discussed the latest developments in the Azov Sea, where Russia carried out an open attack on the Ukrainian navy on Nov. 25, seizing three vessels and taking 24 crew members prisoner.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko arrived in Brussels a day ahead of the summit to lobby for support for Ukraine. After meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk on Dec. 12, Poroshenko told journalists he was “convinced that sanctions against the Russian Federation will be rolled over for (Moscow’s) non-fulfillment of the Minsk Agreement, for its conducting illegal elections in the Donbas, for completely ignoring international law, and for its aggression against the Ukrainian state.”
Senior EU officials, speaking with reporters on condition of anonymity on the eve of summit, said that the key message from the meeting to Russia would be “the decision to extend sanctions for the next six months.”
“I think this is a strong message,” one official told the Kyiv Post.
Arriving for the summit, the EU’s chief diplomat, Federica Mogherini, told journalists that she expects the EU will confirm its “strong position and demand for Russia to release the (Ukrainian) vessels and the crews.”
“The Council will reaffirm not only our strong support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, but also our strong policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula, and a very substantial package of support to Ukraine that the European Union has put in place so far and is ready to strengthen,” Mogherini said.
However, no new sanctions are to be imposed on Russia because of its actions in the Azov Sea, according to the draft EU statement on the incident. According to EU officials, there is no consensus among the EU states on whether to impose further sanctions on Russia.
Instead, the EU will offer assistance to the Ukrainian regions most affected by Russia’s actions in the Azov Sea area. The statement also demands the release of Ukrainian sailors seized by Russia, the return of their vessels, and free passage to all ships passing through the Kerch Strait.
