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| E.U. Imposes New Sanctions Over Russia’s Interference in Ukraine | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BRUSSELS — The European Union announced new sanctions over Ukraine on Thursday, outlawing European investment in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in March, as leaders of the 28-nation bloc gathered in Brussels to review their strategy toward Russia. | |
| The Crimea measures, which restrict or ban investment, trade and tourism, do not strike at Russia’s economy as a whole and are far more modest than a new round of American sanctions mandated by Congress in legislation expanding financial and other moves against Russia. | The Crimea measures, which restrict or ban investment, trade and tourism, do not strike at Russia’s economy as a whole and are far more modest than a new round of American sanctions mandated by Congress in legislation expanding financial and other moves against Russia. |
| But they do indicate Europe’s readiness to keep up economic pressure on Russia over its seizure of Crimea and support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. | But they do indicate Europe’s readiness to keep up economic pressure on Russia over its seizure of Crimea and support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. |
| The European Union’s newly appointed foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, speaking in Brussels on Thursday after a visit to Ukraine, said Europe had no interest in aggravating financial turmoil in Russia, for which President Vladimir V. Putin blamed outside forces on Thursday. | The European Union’s newly appointed foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, speaking in Brussels on Thursday after a visit to Ukraine, said Europe had no interest in aggravating financial turmoil in Russia, for which President Vladimir V. Putin blamed outside forces on Thursday. |
| “The fact that Russia is in a difficult situation from a financial point of view is not good news, first of all for Russian citizens, but also it is not good news for Ukraine, it is not good for Europe or for the rest of the world,” Ms. Mogherini told reporters ahead of a summit meeting in Brussels of European leaders. | “The fact that Russia is in a difficult situation from a financial point of view is not good news, first of all for Russian citizens, but also it is not good news for Ukraine, it is not good for Europe or for the rest of the world,” Ms. Mogherini told reporters ahead of a summit meeting in Brussels of European leaders. |
| But she implicitly rejected Mr. Putin’s interpretation of the roots of the financial crisis, which has sent the Russian ruble into a nose dive on currency markets, suggesting that Russia’s belligerent foreign policy had caused the turmoil. Mr. Putin, she said, “should reflect seriously about the need to introduce a radical change in the attitude towards the rest of the world, to shift to a cooperative mode.” | But she implicitly rejected Mr. Putin’s interpretation of the roots of the financial crisis, which has sent the Russian ruble into a nose dive on currency markets, suggesting that Russia’s belligerent foreign policy had caused the turmoil. Mr. Putin, she said, “should reflect seriously about the need to introduce a radical change in the attitude towards the rest of the world, to shift to a cooperative mode.” |
| Some European countries, particularly those with close economic or historical ties with Russia, like Hungary, have voiced displeasure with what they see as Europe’s overly confrontational approach toward Moscow. But most countries want existing sanctions, which restrict Russia’s access to European capital and technology, to remain in place, at least for the moment. | |
| “We have to be firm on sanctions,” the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Lofven, told reporters. | “We have to be firm on sanctions,” the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Lofven, told reporters. |
| But President François Hollande of France said that if “Russia sends the signals we expect” and curbs its support for armed rebels in eastern Ukraine, Europe should shift to a softer approach with Moscow. “It would be for us to think about how we too could begin a de-escalation,” he said. | But President François Hollande of France said that if “Russia sends the signals we expect” and curbs its support for armed rebels in eastern Ukraine, Europe should shift to a softer approach with Moscow. “It would be for us to think about how we too could begin a de-escalation,” he said. |
| Martin Schulz, the head of the European Parliament, also sounded a conciliatory note, saying that sanctions should be lifted if Russia shows that it “is looking for a way to come back to the negotiating table without losing face.” | Martin Schulz, the head of the European Parliament, also sounded a conciliatory note, saying that sanctions should be lifted if Russia shows that it “is looking for a way to come back to the negotiating table without losing face.” |
| An official statement described the new restrictions on economic relations with Crimea and the port city of Sevastopol, which is part of Crimea but has a separate administrative status, as “substantial additional sanctions” that will “reinforce the E.U.’s policy of not recognizing their illegal annexation by Russia.” The measures were decided in principle months ago but required lengthy legal review before they could be formally announced. | |
| Thursday’s summit meeting was originally scheduled to focus on Europe’s own economic troubles, with a discussion of a new investment plan that aims to kick-start growth, but events in Ukraine have once again forced their way onto the agenda. | Thursday’s summit meeting was originally scheduled to focus on Europe’s own economic troubles, with a discussion of a new investment plan that aims to kick-start growth, but events in Ukraine have once again forced their way onto the agenda. |
| In an effort to cement a common position on Ukraine, leaders will begin what officials call a “strategic discussion” on how to deal with Russia and former Soviet territories like Ukraine that want to draw closer to the European Union. | In an effort to cement a common position on Ukraine, leaders will begin what officials call a “strategic discussion” on how to deal with Russia and former Soviet territories like Ukraine that want to draw closer to the European Union. |
| Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister who recently took over as head of the European Council, the body that represents the governments of member states, said Europe “will not find a long-term perspective for Ukraine without an adequate and consistent, both tough and responsible, policy towards Russia.” | Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister who recently took over as head of the European Council, the body that represents the governments of member states, said Europe “will not find a long-term perspective for Ukraine without an adequate and consistent, both tough and responsible, policy towards Russia.” |
| Some Eastern European states, notably in the Baltics, initially voiced concern that this “strategic discussion” could open the way for a more conciliatory approach toward Moscow but continuing bloodshed in eastern Ukraine has mostly silenced calls for cooperation instead of sanctions. | Some Eastern European states, notably in the Baltics, initially voiced concern that this “strategic discussion” could open the way for a more conciliatory approach toward Moscow but continuing bloodshed in eastern Ukraine has mostly silenced calls for cooperation instead of sanctions. |
| “Many are saying we do not need additional sanctions, but I do not hear anyone calling now for a lifting of existing sanctions,” Lithuania’s foreign minister, Linas Linkevicius, said in an interview. | “Many are saying we do not need additional sanctions, but I do not hear anyone calling now for a lifting of existing sanctions,” Lithuania’s foreign minister, Linas Linkevicius, said in an interview. |
| “Re-engagement with Russia is understandable if we use some channels of communications to send a message,” he said. “But if it is just re-engagement for re-engagement, to show that we can find something in common at the expense of something else, that would definitely be wrong.” | “Re-engagement with Russia is understandable if we use some channels of communications to send a message,” he said. “But if it is just re-engagement for re-engagement, to show that we can find something in common at the expense of something else, that would definitely be wrong.” |