Europe Can Agree on Russia Sanctions If Needed, EU Official Says
Europe Can Agree on Russia Sanctions If Needed, EU Official Says
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union’s foreign policy chief predicted the bloc would have no difficulty agreeing on sanctions against Russia, if the latter invades Ukraine.
Josep Borrell, asked at an EU summit in Brussels if it would be easy to reach a consensus if the need arises, replied, “Yes, this time yes.”
Leading EU members are resisting a push to quickly draw up specific sanctions and other punishments to impose on Russia if it invades Ukraine, even as the Kremlin shows no sign of backing off a massive troop buildup near its neighbor.
Germany, France, Italy and Spain want to focus now on talking to Moscow before laying out details of painful economic measures they’d trigger. But other member states argue that backing up the public threats of sanctions would better deter Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to senior diplomats and officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
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