EU leaders to warn Russia on sanctions amid ‘series of attacks’

Brussels, Dec 16 (EFE).- European leaders are expected to warn Russia an attack on Ukraine would come at a very high price and have severe consequences at an European Union Council Summit in Brussels on Thursday.

The warning of new sanctions comes amid concerns over Russia’s military reinforcement on the border with Ukraine despite Kremlin president Vladimir Putin denying the accusations.

Lithuanian prime minister Gitanas Nauseda urged the EU to do “everything in its power” to prevent a military intervention in Ukraine which should include economic and sectoral sanctions.

In a similar vein, Latvian prime minister Krisjanis Karins told reporters at his arrival in Brussels that a “clear and painful” set of sanctions should be prepared against Russia in order to deter an attack on Ukraine.

“We really are facing a series of attacks. I see them all as associated,” Karins told reporters, referring to the dangerous situation the Baltic region is currently facing due to the weaponization of the migration crisis by Belarus.

The EU has been working on a package of sanctions against Russia for weeks.

“The message is very clear: should Russia take further aggressive actions against Ukraine, the costs will be severe and the consequences serious,” president of the Commision, Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday.

Leaders at the summit are expected to discuss sanctions against Russia as well as strategies to tackle the new Omicron coronavirus variant and the weaponization of migrants by Belarus that the EU has called a “hybrid attack”. EFE

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