The concern to act quickly took precedence over that of striking in a massive way: the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) acted, Tuesday, February 22 in Paris, the principle of a new set of sanctions against the respect of Russia, after the recognition, announced the day before by President Vladimir Putin, of the two separatist republics of the Donbass and the dispatch of Russian troops to these territories located in eastern Ukraine. Europeans have unreservedly condemned these decisions taken in violation of international law. They had to translate their anger into concrete actions without delay, in close consultation with the United States.
These reprisals affect both individuals, banned from visas in the EU, where their assets will be frozen, and various activities in the self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, and in Russia. The 351 elected members of the Duma – the Russian Parliament – who voted in favor of the recognition of these separatist regions are targeted. Twenty-seven personalities or entities are also sanctioned for their role in the violation of the integrity of Ukraine.
It is a question, specified Josep Borrell, the high representative of the EU for external relations, of striking “defense actors who play a role in the invasion” from the country, “those who launched a disinformation campaign against Ukraine” and “banks that finance Russian officials and other operations in these territories” of Donbass. It was also decided to hinder Russia’s ability to access European capital markets and financial services, in particular to refinance its debt.
The decisions were taken shortly after Germany announced its decision to suspend the authorization of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. adoption of a broad package of sanctions to dissuade Vladimir Putin from further stepping up his offensive.
“The impact will be stronger for Russia than for the EU”
“It is a very dangerous situation and the EU must act accordingly. Changing borders by force is something that has no place in Europe in the 21st century.and century”, indicates, at World, the head of Czech diplomacy, Jan Lipavsky: “The Russian president and those close to him seem increasingly rooted in the legacy of the Soviet period. »
The Europeans have all the more favored a gradual approach as they fear that they will soon have to strengthen their arsenal of sanctions, if Vladimir Putin launches a vast military operation against the rest of Ukraine, beyond the separatist republics of Donbass. “We thus have reserves of sanctions if by chance Russia wanted to go further”, justified the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, while announcing that the appointment scheduled for Friday with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, was canceled. The general opinion is that it is now the definition given to the question of the borders of the Donbass that will guide the future. As well as the attitude of Russia in this regard.
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