EU leaders consider new sanctions against Russian “surprises”
BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (Reuters) – European Union leaders will consider on Thursday what economic sanctions could be imposed on Russia if Moscow launches a new attack on Ukraine, the Slovenian prime minister said, noting that the bloc was ready for Russia’s “surprises”. “. .
Ukraine is currently the main focus between Russia and the West. The United States says Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, presumably in preparation for the invasion. Moscow says its actions are purely defensive, and accuses Kiev and the West of provocative behavior.
“I am concerned because military concentration, especially on Ukraine’s border with Russia, is (is) very strong,” said Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose country holds the EU presidency, as he arrived at the one-day summit.
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“And so there is no doubt that Russia is using military force to put pressure … we are prepared to avoid such surprises we encountered during the occupation of Crimea,” he said, referring to Russia’s seizure of the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014.
At the time, the EU, along with the United States, imposed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its energy, banking and defense sectors.
Jansa did not want to give details about possible new sanctions, but said that the North Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany could also be hit in order to prevent its operation.
“Maybe we get some additional information on what the final decision would be … about Nord Stream 2,” he said.
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Reporting Robin Emmott, Sabine Siebold, Kate Abnett, Jan Strupczewski Editing by John Chalmers
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