EU temporises over new sanctions against Russia

There is the need to find a solution and not to compromise the Ukraine talks, so for everybody the strategy is the same: «It's time for dialogue».

Catherine Ashton

by Emanuele Bonini 

The European Union waits for Russia in Geneva to take decision on Ukraine. The twenty eight member states Foreign affairs ministers at work in Luxembourg are not going to take high profile decision, and will reiterate the importance of respecting territorial integrity and rule of law in Ukraine as well as de-escalating the situation through diplomatic efforts. EU strategy is not new, but there is no interest in adopting heavy measures such as the economic sanctions against Russia foreseen by the third stage of EU response to Ukrainian crisis. On Thursday the European Union, the United States, Russia and Ukraine will meet in Geneva for talks, and the Europeans wait for that meeting in order to discuss directly to the Russian counterpart on how to deal with the situation. Waiting for the Geneva meeting Europe is careful to don't irritate Russia, so economic sanctions against the country are kept out. Everybody said it.

 «I don't believe is the right moment to launch the third stage of sanction», said the Italian foreign affairs minister, Federica Mogherini. «I still believe dialogue be the only option possible», she added. «Personally I don't believe sanction help to resolve the situation», admitted the head of the Luxembourgian diplomacy, Jean Asselborn. «Our strategy – pointed out Evangelos Venizelos, minister for Foreign affairs of Greece – is based on two pillars: respect for the rule of law and territorial integrity, and de-escalation through political and diplomatic channels». The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign affairs confirmed EU waits for Russia in Switzerland. «The problem is using meeting in Geneva to de-escalate the situation», she Catherine Ashton. Meanwhile European ministers gave green light to the adoption of temporary tariff cuts for Ukrainian exports to the EU. That's the only decision Europe could take.