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EU considering sanctions against Russia over Aleppo bombing EU considering sanctions against Russia over Aleppo bombing
(35 minutes later)
The EU could threaten Russia with sanctions over the bombing of Aleppo, according to a draft EU summit communique seen by the Guardian.The EU could threaten Russia with sanctions over the bombing of Aleppo, according to a draft EU summit communique seen by the Guardian.
Arriving at the summit in Brussels on Thursday, Theresa May had urged fellow leaders to put pressure on the Kremlin to stop its “appalling, sickening” atrocities in Syria. The prime minister said Europe needed to take a “robust and united stance” in the face of Russian aggression. Arriving at the summit in Brussels on Thursday, Theresa May had urged fellow leaders to press the Kremlin to stop its “appalling, sickening” atrocities in Syria. The prime minister said Europe needed to take a “robust and united stance” in the face of Russian aggression.
She joined forces with her French and German counterparts, François Hollande and Angela Merkel, who are seeking to step up the pressure on Russia.She joined forces with her French and German counterparts, François Hollande and Angela Merkel, who are seeking to step up the pressure on Russia.
“All options are open while there is no truce that is respected and there is this desire to erase a city, Aleppo, a martyred city,” Hollande said, as he arrived at the summit. Speaking as he arrived at the summit, Hollande said: “All options are open while there is no truce that is respected and there is this desire to erase a city, Aleppo, a martyred city.”
The language of the EU’s big three countries is echoed in a draft summit communique seen by the Guardian that is significantly stronger than earlier versions. It says: “The EU is considering all options, including further restrictive measures targeting individuals and entities supporting the regime, should the current atrocities continue.” The language of the EU’s biggest three countries is echoed in a draft summit communique that is significantly stronger than earlier versions. “The EU is considering all options, including further restrictive measures targeting individuals and entities supporting the regime, should the current atrocities continue,” it said.
EU sources do not expect a decision on Thursday night, but want to ensure the threat is on the table. If sanctions were agreed, diplomats would draw up a list of Russian names and organisations that would be hit by travel bans and asset freezes. EU sources do not expect a decision on Thursday night, but want to ensure the threat is on the table. If sanctions were agreed, diplomats would draw up a list of Russian names and organisations that would be subject to travel bans and asset freezes.
Earlier this week, the EU foreign minister said Russia could be guilty of possible war crimes in Aleppo, but stopped short of calling for sanctions against Russians. Ministers did agree to widen sanctions against Syrians. Earlier this week, EU foreign ministers said Russia could be guilty of possible war crimes in Aleppo, but stopped short of calling for sanctions against Russians. Ministers agreed to widen sanctions against Syrians.
May attempted to offer an olive branch to EU leaders alarmed by talk of a hard Brexit, promising that the UK would be a “strong and dependable partner” after it left the EU.May attempted to offer an olive branch to EU leaders alarmed by talk of a hard Brexit, promising that the UK would be a “strong and dependable partner” after it left the EU.
“The UK is leaving the EU, but we will continue to play a full role until we leave and we’ll be a strong and dependable partner after we’ve left,” May said. “The UK is leaving the EU, but we will continue to play a full role until we leave and we’ll be a strong and dependable partner after we’ve left,” she said.
“It is in the interests of the UK and the EU that we continue to work closely together, including at this summit “It is in the interests of the UK and the EU that we continue to work closely together, including at this summit.”
Britain’s impending exit from the EU has raised questions about whether the bloc will be able to stay united on Russia.Britain’s impending exit from the EU has raised questions about whether the bloc will be able to stay united on Russia.
After the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, met Merkel and Hollande on Wednesday night, a “humanitarian pause” in attacks on rebel-held eastern Aleppo came into effect on Thursday morning. Russia has offered to stop bombing eastern Aleppo for 11 hours a day over four days, but the proposal is seen as insufficient to bring about a peace deal. After the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, met Merkel and Hollande on Wednesday night, a “humanitarian pause” in attacks on rebel-held eastern Aleppo came into effect on Thursday morning.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, around 2,700 people have been killed or injured in Aleppo since Syrian forces, backed by Russia, launched an all-out assault last month. Russia has offered to stop bombing eastern Aleppo for 11 hours a day over four days, but the proposal is seen as insufficient to bring about a peace deal.
Russia was put on the EU summit agenda at the request of the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, in May. He wanted to take stock of relations with the EU’s eastern neighbour following the decline in fighting in eastern Ukraine. But any attempt to move relations onto a less confrontational footing have been scuppered by the fierce bombing of Aleppo. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, about 2,700 people have been killed or injured in Aleppo since Syrian forces, backed by Russia, launched an all-out assault last month.
The EU imposed economic sanctions against Russia in July 2014 in response to Russia’s arming of the rebels in eastern Ukraine and failure to cooperate in the investigation over the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines jet MH17, which killed 298 people. Talk of ending the sanctions, which target Russian banks, energy companies and arms makers, had now “completely disappeared without trace”, said one EU diplomat. Russia was put on the EU summit agenda at the request of the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, in May. He wanted to take stock of relations with the EU’s eastern neighbour following the decrease in fighting in eastern Ukraine. But any attempt to move relations on to a less confrontational footing has been scuppered by the fierce bombing of Aleppo.
The UK’s tough stance on Russia puts May on the same side as the EU’s biggest member states, but raises questions about British influence after Brexit. The EU imposed economic sanctions against Russia in July 2014 in response to Russia’s arming of rebels in eastern Ukraine and failure to cooperate in the investigation over the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which killed 298 people. Talk of ending the sanctions, which target Russian banks, energy companies and arms makers, had “completely disappeared without trace,” an EU diplomat said.
Over a working dinner in Brussels, she will warn the 27 other EU leaders that Britain’s decision to leave is irreversible and there can be no second referendum. Meanwhile, over a working dinner in Brussels, May will warn the 27 other EU leaders that Britain’s decision to leave is irreversible and there can be no second referendum.
The European council meeting will be the prime minister’s first opportunity to address the leaders of all the other member states since the Brexit vote in June.The European council meeting will be the prime minister’s first opportunity to address the leaders of all the other member states since the Brexit vote in June.
Donald Tusk, the European council president, has said the UK’s future relationship with the EU will not be on the formal agenda for the two-day meeting, but he will give May the opportunity to set out the “current state of affairs in the country” over coffee at the end of the meal. Donald Tusk, the European council president, said the UK’s future relationship with the EU will not be on the formal agenda for the two-day meeting, but he will give May the opportunity to set out the “current state of affairs in the country” over coffee at the end of the meal.
Arriving at the summit, Tusk said he was very happy to welcome May. “Some media described her first meeting in the European council as entering the lion’s den,” he said. “It’s not true. It’s more like a nest of doves. She’ll be absolutely safe with us.”Arriving at the summit, Tusk said he was very happy to welcome May. “Some media described her first meeting in the European council as entering the lion’s den,” he said. “It’s not true. It’s more like a nest of doves. She’ll be absolutely safe with us.”
A No 10 source said the prime minister would tell her fellow EU leaders: “The British people have made a decision and it’s right and proper that that decision is honoured. There will be no second referendum. The priority now has got to be looking to the future, and the relationship between the UK, once we leave.”A No 10 source said the prime minister would tell her fellow EU leaders: “The British people have made a decision and it’s right and proper that that decision is honoured. There will be no second referendum. The priority now has got to be looking to the future, and the relationship between the UK, once we leave.”
The source said May would seek to reassure the other member states, amid growing fears that Brexit could unleash political and economic instability in Britain and the rest of Europe.The source said May would seek to reassure the other member states, amid growing fears that Brexit could unleash political and economic instability in Britain and the rest of Europe.
“She wants the outcome at the end of this process to be a strong UK, as a partner of a strong EU,” the source said. “She doesn’t want the process of the UK leaving to be damaging for the rest of the EU. She wants it to be a smooth, constructive, orderly process.”“She wants the outcome at the end of this process to be a strong UK, as a partner of a strong EU,” the source said. “She doesn’t want the process of the UK leaving to be damaging for the rest of the EU. She wants it to be a smooth, constructive, orderly process.”
With speculation rife as to how Britain plans to conduct Brexit negotiations, Tusk wants to avoid a discussion and will not invite EU leaders to respond. May’s remarks are an “any other business point”, underscoring that the UK is far down the priority list for the summit. With speculation rife as to how Britain plans to conduct Brexit negotiations, Tusk wants to avoid a discussion and will not invite EU leaders to respond. May’s remarks are an “any other business point”, underscoring the fact that the UK is far down the priority list for the summit.