In the European Parliament are convinced that in case of escalation of the “war of Putin against Ukraine” sanctions against Russia should be tightened.
This opinion was expressed by several members of the European Parliament Tuesday in Strasbourg in plenary session to discuss the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, in particular, around Avdeevki.
So, the MEP, the representative of the European populists Sandra Kalniete (Latvia), noting the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, has called these events, in particular, around the Town, “the escalation of the war of Putin against Ukraine.”
“That’s a concern of Europe. It (this war) has already claimed over 10 thousand lives. Make no mistake, Putin’s ambitions not only to control Ukraine, his ambition to make the EU and NATO become impotent and did not matter. The war against Ukraine is a step in this direction, and it is also a test for European unity,” she said.
Kalniete expressed the belief that “it is important to stop Putin before he will move to another country in Europe.”
“Economic sanctions were the only method of holding the EU against further aggression. Removing any of these sanctions (in exchange for) something less than full compliance by Russia of the Minsk arrangements will be our own defeat. Without them, our policy will lose its credibility and effectiveness. If there is an escalation of Russian aggression, we must continue to toughen sanctions,” she said.
The same opinion is shared by the Deputy from the liberal Johannes van Balen. “Russia continues to occupy part of Ukraine. There is nothing new. Can we take it? No. We have sanctions which should be extended, should also be possible that in case Russia will continue to move in this way, these sanctions will be tightened, and we will have more reasonable sanctions against Russia. Russia should know that there is no alternative but to get out of Ukraine, give Crimea and to work with us the normal way,” he said.
Deputy Jacek Saryusz-Wolski believes that “the more we rush, the more Russia is going.” “The Russian war in Ukraine against Ukraine is a fact, because we – EU and US – range”, – said the politician.
In his opinion, the EU should apply the principle of “more for more” in relation to sanctions against Russia. “It is necessary to proportionally increase the sanctions according to the principle “more for more”, – said Saryusz-Wolski.
He also expressed the need to revise the Minsk agreements, return to the Geneva format with the participation of the US and EU to give Ukraine weapons.
The socialist MP Victor Bostinaru believes that only the full implementation of the Minsk agreements can solve this conflict. “We call on both sides – the Ukrainian and the so-called separatists – once and for all to respect the ceasefire. At the same time, we must condemn Russia’s support for separatists and its direct involvement. We hope that Russia will finally demonstrate a sense of responsibility and use his influence on separatists to respect the Minsk agreement”, – said the MEP.
In turn, the green leader, Deputy Rebecca harms condemned the statements of former European Commission President Romano Prodi about the lifting of sanctions against Russia. “Romano Prodi said it quite clearly. He said let’s let trump will cancel the sanctions against Russia. And then he took trump’s words, and said let’s make Europe big and stronger with Putin,” she told the meaning.
The harms called such statements “absurd.” “Since the Town we all know that we should talk about increasing the sanctions,” – said the politician.
In their speeches, the MPs also spoke in support of the implementation of the Minsk agreements, and representatives of the ultra-right, nationalist forces, have traditionally been on the protection of Russia, accusing the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements Ukraine.
