On the 2nd of March 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that "demands that Russia immediately cease the use of force against Ukraine", in a vote overwhelmingly approved by 141 countries - including all the member countries of the European Union - with 5 opposing and 35 abstaining out of the 193 members of the Organisation. France and the EU therefore join almost the entire international community in strongly condemning the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, which constitutes the most serious attack on Europe's security in decades.
Facing the war launched by Russia without any provocation and in flagrant violation of international law and all its commitments, the 27 EU Member States have adopted massive sanctions against Russia. They aim to make the cost of the war unbearable for Russia and to change the calculations of Vladimir Putin, who at this stage maintains his choice of an all-out war against Ukraine.
For the EU, the sanctions are firstly targeting the people responsible for the decisions linked to the war, but also the Russian public and private economic system that supports this war effort. In financial terms, Russia is now almost cut off from the financial markets. The sanctions also prohibit all investment in the Russian energy sector and the broadcasting of media that relay Russian war propaganda throughout the EU. These massive sanctions are working. The rouble has already plummeted, interest rates in Russia have skyrocketed and the Moscow Exchange has been closed.
The EU stands ready to increase this pressure further to raise the price of war for Russia and lead it to choose ceasefire and negotiation as President Emmanuel Macron declared at the European heads of States’ Summit of Versailles on 10-11 March 2022. The EU members support the opening on the 2nd of March 2022 of an investigation by the International Criminal Court into Russia's attacks causing civilian casualties and welcome the 16th of March 2022 ruling of the International Court of Justice ordering Russia to halt the invasion of Ukraine. The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron nevertheless maintains the dialogue with Vladimir Putin to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
France and the EU express their solidarity with all Ukrainian victims as well as with the African and Tanzanian nationals affected by the conflict.
