The European Union stands with Ukraine and its people. We will continue to support them. Ukraine will prevail. 🇪🇺🇺🇦#StandWithUkraine
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council Charles Michel to discuss Russia’s brutal, unprovoked and ongoing attack on Ukraine.
NATO and the European Union stand united in condemning Russia’s barbaric actions, and in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its right to self-defence.
In the press briefing following this meeting, the Secretary General welcomed the coordinated actions announced by the European Union, NATO Allies and partners. “This sends a strong message of unity. And it demonstrates how alone and isolated Russia is”, said Mr. Stoltenberg.
Presidents von der Leyen and Michel will both attend the virtual Summit of NATO leaders on 25 February, alongside NATO’s valued partners Finland and Sweden.
#PUTIN #WAR #RUSSIA #EuropeanUnion
EU condemns barbaric Russia attack, prepares new sanctions!
EU plans ‘harshest’ sanctions package ever against Russia
The European Union is planning the “strongest, the harshest package” of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency summit Thursday as the Russian military attacked Ukraine and world leaders reacted with outrage at Moscow’s actions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “the target is the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order, and we will hold President (Vladimir) Putin accountable for that.”
“We will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval,” she said.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the “strongest, the harshest package” ever considered.
“A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue,” Borrell said. “This is not only the greatest violation of international law, it’s a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence. It’s costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.”
Von der Leyen said the “massive and targeted sanctions” she will put to EU leaders “will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia.”
She said the sanctions, if approved, “will weaken Russia’s economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial financial markets.”
Like the first package of sanctions that were imposed when Russia recognized the two breakaway eastern Ukrainian republics, von der Leyen said all Western powers were walking in lockstep.
“We are closely aligned with our partners and allies the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, but also, for example, Japan and Australia,” she said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Western allies won’t stand by as Russia attacks Ukraine.
In an early morning call, Johnson told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he was appalled by events in Ukraine, according to a statement released by the prime minister’s office.
“The Prime Minister said the West would not stand by as President Putin waged his campaign against the Ukrainian people,” Johnson’s office said in the statement.
Johnson added that Ukraine was in the thoughts of everyone in the U.K. “during this dark time.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, who had labored until the last minute for a diplomatic solution, said “France firmly condemns Russia’s decision to wage war,” and promised support for Ukraine. “Russia must end its military operations immediately,” Macron said.
The turmoil from the beginning of a long-feared act of aggression rippled from Europe to Asia. Stock markets plunged, oil prices surged, and European aviation officials warned of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, reminding air operators that “this is now an active conflict zone.”
The London Stock Exchange’s leading FTSE 100 index Z00, -3.01% plunged more than 200 points, or 2.7%, within moments of opening following Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
In New York, the U.N. Security Council held an extraordinary emergency meeting meant to dissuade Russia from sending troops into Ukraine. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ plea to “give peace a chance” came just as Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on Russian TV to announce a military operation that he maintained was to protect civilians in Ukraine.
Putin, who said that rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance, warned other countries that any effort to interfere with the Russian operation would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
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