BRUSSELS - "This afternoon we will adopt the first sanctions" against Moscow.
This was stated
by the High Representative for EU Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell
, arriving in Paris at the Forum for Indo-Pacific Cooperation.
"An
informal Foreign Affairs Council
will be held after this Forum", announced Borrell saying he was "certain of the unanimous vote" of the member countries.
At the same time, the meeting of the ambassadors of the 27 member countries
(Coreper II)
took place in Brussels .
And the first green light for the package of sanctions to be put in place after the recognition by Russia of the separatist republics of Donestk and Lugansk has arrived.
According to what is learned, the ok to the first package of sanctions by the EU ambassadors includes the
ban on imports and exports from Ukrainian separatist entities on the model of what was previously done for Crimea, the inclusion in the black list of names and entities ( politicians, military, economic operators, exponents of disinformation mechanisms) plus any other personalities among the commanders of the Russian "peacekeeping" forces and the leaders of the separatist republics
.
The green light - which for now is not formal but in principle - also concerns the non-recognition of Russian passports issued to citizens of the two entities.
The French presidency underlines that "there is unity" on the part of the member states in the reaction to Russian decisions.
"There is determination to take targeted sanctions against the people involved" in the operations in the Donbass, "in coordination with our allies", the French presidency continues.
A new
Coreper II meeting is expected at the end of the day
, after the informal Foreign Affairs Council in Paris.