Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has stressed the importance of the EU’s unity and solidarity with Ukraine in the context of a unanimous decision to impose the so-called Azov package of sanctions against the Russian Federation.
“[I’m] extremely grateful to the EU Council for the decision to introduce the “Azov package” of sanctions, as we agreed with [President of the European Council] Donald Tusk in December last year. It is important that we keep our agreements with Europe on unity and solidarity with Ukraine,” Poroshenko said on Twitter after a meeting with Tusk in Kyiv on February 18.
Earlier on Monday, Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said that the EU had reached political agreements to impose so-called “Azov” sanctions against Russia for an attack in the Kerch Strait area on Ukrainian ships, followed by their seizure and capture of the crews. The technical process of the approval of the decision will take several days, he said.
Later, Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini said that the European Union leaders agreed on the need to impose sanctions against Russian individuals in connection with the situation in the area of the Sea of Azov, while the preparation of these measures will be completed in the coming days.
“I can confirm that there is political consensus on some further measures to be taken – personal, targeted sanctions. I believe the formal adoption of the legal acts will be finalized in the coming days,” she told reporters in Brussels on February 18.
“I would not elaborate more on that for obvious reasons but the political consensus is already there,” she added.
