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Europeans to Debate Tougher Sanctions on Russia Europeans Debate Tougher Sanctions on Russia
(about 3 hours later)
BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers gathered on Tuesday to endorse a possible schedule of sanctions against Russia over the downing of the Malaysia Airlines jet in eastern Ukraine. But they were unlikely to impose the measures immediately for fear of jeopardizing the repatriation of victims’ bodies and an experts’ search of the crash site, according to officials and diplomats. BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers met on Tuesday to endorse a schedule of tougher sanctions against Russia over the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jet in eastern Ukraine. But they were unlikely to impose the measures immediately for fear of jeopardizing an independent search of the crash site and possible Russian help in quelling the rebellion in Ukraine, according to officials.
The meeting could further illuminate broad distinctions between European approaches, with France under pressure to suspend military sales to Russia, Germany anxious to maintain some form of dialogue with President Vladimir V. Putin and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain pressing for a harder line. The meeting could further reveal broad differences between countries’ approaches, with France under pressure to suspend military sales to Russia, Germany anxious to maintain some form of dialogue with President Vladimir V. Putin and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain pressing for a harder line.
“It is time to make our power, influence and resources felt,” Mr. Cameron told Parliament in London on Monday, advocating tougher sanctions against parts of the Russian economy in response to the Kremlin’s support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine who have been accused of bringing down the airliner. The question of French plans to sell two Mistral helicopter carrier warships to Russia — a deal opposed by Britain and the United States — could be a central issue, playing into demands by some Europeans for an arms embargo on Russia.
Carl Bildt, the Swedish foreign minister, and Linas Linkevicius, the Lithuanian foreign minister, called for an embargo on military shipments that would almost certainly include the French deal.
“We should have had an arms embargo quite some time ago,” Mr. Bildt told reporters before the meeting, though he admitted that it was unclear whether the European Union would ever agree to take that step. Even so, “to deliver arms to Russia in this situation is somewhat difficult to defend, to put it mildly,” he said.
His remarks echoed comments on Monday by Mr. Cameron, who said it would be “unthinkable” for Britain to proceed with arms supplies to Russia at this juncture.
President François Hollande of France appeared to brush aside the criticism, saying late on Monday that the first warship covered by the agreement with Russia was almost built and would be delivered as planned in October.
“For the time being, a level of sanctions has not been decided on that would prevent this delivery,” Mr. Hollande said. “The Russians have paid,” he said, and cancellation of the deal would oblige France to reimburse Russia to the tune of 1.1 billion euros, or $1.5 billion.
“Could the rest of the contract be honored?” Mr. Hollande asked, referring to the second warship. “That will depend on Russia’s attitude. I say that very clearly. But at this stage no sanction has been decided that would oblige us to cancel.”
His remarks contrasted sharply with the more hawkish line adopted by Mr. Cameron.
“It is time to make our power, influence and resources felt,” the British leader told Parliament in London on Monday, advocating tougher sanctions against parts of the Russian economy in response to the Kremlin’s support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine who have been accused of bringing down the airliner.
“Russia cannot expect to continue enjoying access to European markets, European capital, European knowledge and technical expertise while she fuels conflict in one of Europe’s neighbors,” Mr. Cameron said.“Russia cannot expect to continue enjoying access to European markets, European capital, European knowledge and technical expertise while she fuels conflict in one of Europe’s neighbors,” Mr. Cameron said.
The measures to be discussed on Tuesday were likely to fall short of such sweeping demands. For his part, Mr. Bildt accused Moscow of sending weapons to the separatists in defiance of earlier calls by the European Union to seal Russia’s border with Ukraine.
The European ministers could agree on threats to impose sanctions on broad swaths of the Russian economy and on Russian oligarchs with only indirect links to the conflict in Ukraine, officials said after a preparatory meeting on Monday evening in Brussels. “What we have been seeing is that they have been, since then, stepping up the delivery of heavy arms,” Mr. Bildt said. Referring to a kind of Russian tank, he said there were “modernized T-64s on the streets of Donetsk,” the separatist stronghold in eastern Ukraine, as recently as Monday. “You don’t buy them at the local grocery store,” he said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the European ministers could agree on threats to impose sanctions on broad swaths of the Russian economy and on Russian oligarchs with only indirect links to the conflict in Ukraine, officials said after a preparatory session on Monday evening in Brussels.
But the ministers were expected to stop short of recommending that such measures take effect immediately, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the preparatory meeting of ambassadors to the European Union from the bloc’s 28 member states was confidential.But the ministers were expected to stop short of recommending that such measures take effect immediately, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the preparatory meeting of ambassadors to the European Union from the bloc’s 28 member states was confidential.
Some Europeans fear that tougher sanctions will invite reprisals by Russia against countries dependent on its energy supplies, harming the Continent’s economic growth.Some Europeans fear that tougher sanctions will invite reprisals by Russia against countries dependent on its energy supplies, harming the Continent’s economic growth.
One big issue is a French deal to sell two Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia, an agreement that the United States, Britain and some other European nations want President François Hollande to suspend. Additionally, a Hungarian nuclear project and Austrian involvement in a gas pipeline have come under scrutiny by proponents of tougher sanctions in the European Parliament.
Speaking late on Monday, Mr. Hollande said that the first warship covered by an agreement with Russia was almost complete and would be delivered as planned in October, Reuters reported. “For the time being, a level of sanctions has not been decided on that would prevent this delivery,” Mr. Hollande said.
“Does that mean that the rest of the contract — the second Mistral — can be carried through? That depends on Russia’s attitude,” Mr. Hollande was quoted as saying.
On Tuesday, the foreign ministers were expected to agree on “an incremental approach,” according to a European diplomat monitoring the talks. “But it depends on the attitude from the Russians,” said the diplomat, who suggested that the European bloc could rapidly adopt a more forceful posture depending on developments at the crash site.On Tuesday, the foreign ministers were expected to agree on “an incremental approach,” according to a European diplomat monitoring the talks. “But it depends on the attitude from the Russians,” said the diplomat, who suggested that the European bloc could rapidly adopt a more forceful posture depending on developments at the crash site.
The diplomat said the draft schedule of sanctions could still change during discussions on Tuesday.The diplomat said the draft schedule of sanctions could still change during discussions on Tuesday.
Arriving for the meeting, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany said: “I say we remain open to defusing the situation with all political and diplomatic means but it will be necessary to accompany this willingness with higher pressure, which also means sharper measures.” Arriving at the meeting, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany said: “I say we remain open to defusing the situation with all political and diplomatic means but it will be necessary to accompany this willingness with higher pressure, which also means sharper measures.”
Mr. Linkevicius, the Lithuanian foreign minister, told reporters on Tuesday morning that concrete penalties against the richest and most powerful Russians would be crucial to the effectiveness of any sanctions.
“Coming closer to the circle which is the decision-making circle — that’s the point, and that’s the essence,” Mr. Linkevicius said. “We really can do that.”