The European Union has warned Russia that it might face penalties if it invaded Ukraine, as Germany’s new chancellor referred to as for talks to resolve tensions after Moscow amassed troops on the border with its southwestern neighbour.
“Aggression wants to return with a price ticket, which is why we are going to talk these factors forward of time to Russia,” European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen informed a joint information convention with Olaf Scholz late on Friday.
Ukraine accuses Russia of making ready for a potential large-scale army offensive. The Kremlin denies planning any assault.
Von der Leyen mentioned the EU wouldn’t talk about publicly any “sanctions and different measures throughout financial and monetary sectors” that the 27-nation bloc would take with its companions towards Moscow within the case of an invasion.
“We would like a great relationship with Russia, nevertheless it relies upon before everything on the way in which by which Russia behaves. Russia is taking a threatening stance in the direction of its neighbours and that undermines Europe’s safety,” she mentioned.
Requested if sanctions might embrace shutting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that can carry gasoline to Europe, she mentioned that, basically, vitality ought to by no means be used to exert stress and the vitality safety of Europe and its neighbours ought to be secured.
Scholz declined to reply the query on the Russian-German pipeline, saying that whereas it was clear that the EU and others would react if there was an invasion of Ukraine, talks to stop such an end result have been additionally vital.
Earlier within the day throughout a go to to France https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/macron-welcomes-scholz-france-germany-seek-common-ground-after-merkel-2021-12-10, Scholz referred to as for a revival of the “Normandy format” talks between Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine to resolve the disaster.
“We’re deeply involved in regards to the troops we’re seeing alongside the Ukrainian border, and that’s why it’s vital that Europe be agency on this space and present clearly that Europe’s borders are inviolable,” Scholz mentioned at a information convention later with Charles Michel, president of the EU‘s European Council.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned throughout his assembly with Scholz in regards to the threat of self-fulfilling prophecies following a U.S. intelligence evaluation {that a} multi-front offensive on Ukraine by Russia might occur as early as subsequent yr.
(Reuters)