The EU summoned Russia's top diplomat in Brussels on Monday (October 3rd) in a coordinated action with member states to condemn and reject the "illegal annexation" of part of Ukrainian territory.
"
This is an EU-wide and EU-coordinated move
," Peter Stano, the bloc's foreign affairs spokesman, told AFP.
EU countries began summoning Russian diplomats on Friday after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the annexation of four regions of Ukraine occupied by his troops since the February invasion.
Belgium had summoned the Russian ambassador on Friday.
Italy and Austria did the same on Monday.
EU leaders have insisted that they will “
never
” recognize this “
illegal annexation
” led by Moscow, and the 27 are finalizing new sanctions.
EU diplomats are trying to overcome objections from several member states, including Hungary and Greece, to a cap on the price of Russian oil sold worldwide.
The EU has already imposed seven waves of unprecedented sanctions on Russia.
It provides billions of euros in military aid to Ukraine.
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