NEWPORT, September 04. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union’s decision regarding more sanctions against Russia will depend on events that will take place within hours, French President Francois Hollande said at NATO’s summit.
In fact, he confirmed analysts’ speculations the EU would make up its mind whether to go ahead with sanctions against Russia only after consultations with the US at the NATO summit.
EU prepares new sanctions against Russia
The EU’s early summit on August 30 instructed the European Commission to draft another package of sanctions against Russia after a spate of NATO’s allegations about Russian military presence in Ukraine. Russia promptly and emphatically refuted the charges. The EU leaders then made a decision the sanctions would be considered in a week’s time, by September 6, which prompted speculations the Europeans wished to hold consultations at the NATO summit in Wales on September 4-5 first.
The European Commission presented its proposals for more sanctions to the EU Council on September 3. The EC press office said earlier on Thursday the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives would consider them on September 5.
Earlier, the Czech Republic and Slovakia declared they were unprepared to take a harder line against Russia without convincing evidence or Russian troops’ presence in Ukraine’s territory.
NATO leader agree on need to impose new sanctions vs Russia
Key NATO leaders have agreed that increased sanctions should be imposed on Russia over the crisis in eastern Ukraine, the White House said on Thursday.
US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi discussed the issue with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Wales, the White House said.
"The leaders reiterated their condemnation of Russia's continued flagrant vioaltion of Ukraine's sovereignty andterritorial integrity, and agreed on the need for Russia to face increased costs for its actions," the White House said in a statement said.