FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
BRUSSELS – In the wake of the sensational Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Twenty-seven will soon decide on a new package of sanctions against the Kremlin, such as to isolate the country, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a video intervention this morning. , Thursday 24 February, here in Brussels. The diplomatic work has already begun and a political decision could be taken this evening, 24 February, at a summit of the heads of state and government of the 27.
Ms von der Leyen spoke of a package of “massive and targeted sanctions” with the aim of weakening Russia’s “modernization capacity” and “blocking Russian banks’ access to European financial markets”, freezing the assets of the country in Europe. It would be the second batch of sanctions after those developed on Tuesday, when President Vladimir Putin surprisingly announced the recognition of two breakaway republics in Ukraine.
The political-military situation in Eastern Europe has precipitated in the last few hours, with the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine. Eyewitnesses spoke of explosions in the country’s main cities, and not just in the eastern part, fought over by pro-Russian separatists.
High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell said this morning that these are “the darkest hours” for Europe since the end of World War II. The measures launched two days ago already have the objective of blocking Russia’s access to European financial markets. Brussels will want to do more. A diplomat explained that with a change in community rules it will also be possible to hit oligarchs, not directly involved in the affair but often allies of the Kremlin.
Will the Twenty-Seven want to hit the energy sector or the Swift interbank network, with the risk of penalizing the European economies themselves? The possible divisions among the Twenty-seven always hover. The package launched on Tuesday showed remarkable, perhaps surprising, unity among member countries. There are those who fear that any more restrictive measures could create divisions between governments. The possibility exists, but the impression is that the desire to preserve the common European home in an international scene that has become incredibly unstable and threatening should lead to cohesion. “We will not allow President Putin to destroy the security architecture he has given to the Europe, peace and stability, ”added Ms von der Leyen.