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European Union foreign ministers are meeting today in Brussels to consider further sanctions against Russia. European leaders will discuss a proposal to ban Russian gold exports in the hope that the measures will eventually begin to have a decisive impact on the war in Ukraine.
Speaking before the meeting, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that at the moment the most important thing is the ban on the import of Russian gold, which ranks second among Russian exports after energy. He said imposing sanctions on Russia was the right decision despite rising food and energy prices.
“Some European leaders have said the sanctions were wrong. I think the sanctions were the right thing and we should continue (with their implementation). Some say the ban on Russian oil has driven up fuel prices. But the data shows that prices are falling.”
Mr. Borrell said that the Kremlin has used against the countries of the bloc their dependence on Russian gas. But he said that the countries of the European Union are preparing plans to cope with any possible situation and that the EU will not stop supporting Ukraine.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday he hoped to reach an agreement this week with Russia to unblock Ukrainian ports for grain exports. Tens of thousands of people’s lives depend on reaching an agreement amid food shortages in several countries around the world.
The chief diplomat of the European Union emphasized the importance of sanctions against the war in Ukraine. The comprehensive package of Western sanctions against Russia includes an oil embargo, a freeze on transactions and assets of the Russian central bank, and a ban on new investment in Russia.
“It is important to show long-term support for Ukraine. Russia is trying to strain our patience, but we are responding with our European and transatlantic unity.” said Anna Luehrmann, Germany’s top diplomat for the bloc.
Among the topics of discussion among the foreign ministers of the European Union is the approval of another aid package of 500 million euros for the supply of weapons to Ukraine, bringing the bloc’s support to two billion euros since the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine on 24 February./VOA
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