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Europeans Endorse Limited New Sanctions on Russia Europeans Discuss Limited New Sanctions on Russia
(34 minutes later)
BRUSSELS — Under pressure to display resolve and common purpose following the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jet over eastern Ukraine, European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday discussed limited new sanctions against Russia. But their action fell short of stronger measures, like an arms embargo, that some member states had called for.BRUSSELS — Under pressure to display resolve and common purpose following the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jet over eastern Ukraine, European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday discussed limited new sanctions against Russia. But their action fell short of stronger measures, like an arms embargo, that some member states had called for.
From the beginning of the talks on Tuesday, and for weeks before, the ministers had been seen as unlikely to impose tough new measures immediately, for fear of jeopardizing an independent search of the crash site and possible Russian help in quelling rebellion in Ukraine.From the beginning of the talks on Tuesday, and for weeks before, the ministers had been seen as unlikely to impose tough new measures immediately, for fear of jeopardizing an independent search of the crash site and possible Russian help in quelling rebellion in Ukraine.
The gathering also played out against divisions between countries like Britain and other nations, notably Germany, eager to preserve some channel of dialogue with Russia to protect economic interests and energy supplies.The gathering also played out against divisions between countries like Britain and other nations, notably Germany, eager to preserve some channel of dialogue with Russia to protect economic interests and energy supplies.
“It is time to make our power, influence and resources felt,” Prime Minister David Cameron told the British Parliament on Monday, advocating tougher sanctions against parts of the Russian economy in response to the Kremlin’s support for the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine who have been accused of bringing down the airliner.“It is time to make our power, influence and resources felt,” Prime Minister David Cameron told the British Parliament on Monday, advocating tougher sanctions against parts of the Russian economy in response to the Kremlin’s support for the 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.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the foreign ministers agreed to draw up a new and broader list of targets for sanctions, including Russian individuals and entities, said Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief.At Tuesday’s meeting, the foreign ministers agreed to draw up a new and broader list of targets for sanctions, including Russian individuals and entities, said Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief.
The ministers are examining proposals to restrict Russian “access to capital markets, defense, dual-use goods and sensitive technologies including in the energy sector,” Ms. Ashton said. The proposals would be drawn up by the European Commission, the bloc’s policy making body, and would be discussed on Thursday.The ministers are examining proposals to restrict Russian “access to capital markets, defense, dual-use goods and sensitive technologies including in the energy sector,” Ms. Ashton said. The proposals would be drawn up by the European Commission, the bloc’s policy making body, and would be discussed on Thursday.
But no new additional measures were imposed, reflecting fears among some Europeans that tougher sanctions would invite reprisals by Russia against countries dependent on its energy supplies, harming the Continent’s economic growth.But no new additional measures were imposed, reflecting fears among some Europeans that tougher sanctions would invite reprisals by Russia against countries dependent on its energy supplies, harming the Continent’s economic growth.
Meanwhile, President François Hollande of France said before the ministers’ meeting in Brussels that the first part of a contentious deal to sell two Mistral-class helicopter carrier ships to Russia would go ahead, in part to spare France the need to reimburse Russia for a canceled contract.Meanwhile, President François Hollande of France said before the ministers’ meeting in Brussels that the first part of a contentious deal to sell two Mistral-class helicopter carrier ships to Russia would go ahead, in part to spare France the need to reimburse Russia for a canceled contract.
Britain and the United States had publicly opposed the deal. Mr. Cameron went so far as to say that a sale of that kind by his country’s muscular arms industry would be “unthinkable.” And the Obama administration made clear again on Tuesday that it wanted stronger support from Europe in imposing “costs” on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for the Kremlin’s support of the separatists in eastern Ukraine accused in the West of downing the airliner.Britain and the United States had publicly opposed the deal. Mr. Cameron went so far as to say that a sale of that kind by his country’s muscular arms industry would be “unthinkable.” And the Obama administration made clear again on Tuesday that it wanted stronger support from Europe in imposing “costs” on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for the Kremlin’s support of the separatists in eastern Ukraine accused in the West of downing the airliner.
“We should have had an arms embargo quite some time ago,” Carl Bildt, the Swedish foreign minister, told reporters before the meeting. “To deliver arms to Russia in this situation is somewhat difficult to defend, to put it mildly.”“We should have had an arms embargo quite some time ago,” Carl Bildt, the Swedish foreign minister, told reporters before the meeting. “To deliver arms to Russia in this situation is somewhat difficult to defend, to put it mildly.”
On Monday evening, Mr. Hollande pre-empted the argument, saying that the first of the two warships covered by the agreement with Russia was almost built and would be delivered as planned in October.On Monday evening, Mr. Hollande pre-empted the argument, saying that the first of the two warships 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 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.“For the time being, a level of sanctions has not been decided 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.”“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 drew a tart response from President Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, who compared the deal to the 1930s appeasement of Nazi Germany. She said in a radio interview quoted by Reuters that European indecision was “a direct invitation for the aggressor to be more aggressive and go further.”His remarks drew a tart response from President Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, who compared the deal to the 1930s appeasement of Nazi Germany. She said in a radio interview quoted by Reuters that European indecision was “a direct invitation for the aggressor to be more aggressive and go further.”
Some nations like the Netherlands, whose citizens accounted for almost 200 of the 298 people killed on the Malaysian plane, seemed to have shifted ground as a result of the disaster. The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, said attitudes had changed “fundamentally,” while the Dutch foreign minister, Frans Timmermans, said there was “no Dutch blockade of further sanctions. The Netherlands wants the European Union to make a united, and also strong, clear statement against the unrest in eastern Ukraine.”Some nations like the Netherlands, whose citizens accounted for almost 200 of the 298 people killed on the Malaysian plane, seemed to have shifted ground as a result of the disaster. The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, said attitudes had changed “fundamentally,” while the Dutch foreign minister, Frans Timmermans, said there was “no Dutch blockade of further sanctions. The Netherlands wants the European Union to make a united, and also strong, clear statement against the unrest in eastern Ukraine.”
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.”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.”