EU Council agrees Russia sanctions promising “severe consequences”

The Council of the European Union has agreed a package of new measures designed at punishing Russia after it defied international calls for peace and mounted a major military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

The measures include steps to strengthen the Ukrainian military through supply of non-lethal and lethal equipment – a first for the bloc – to the country’s military forces, with a total of €500 million ($560 million).

The Council also authorised further sanctions targeting Russia’s denying permission for Russian aircraft – civilian or military – to take off, land or overfly EU member states.

The sanctions also extended to financial dealings, with the Russian Central Bank targeted along with any person, body or entity acting on its behalf.

“The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, as well as the involvement of Belarus in this aggression,” a press release stated.

The EU seeks the end of military action and the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian forces, the press release said.

“The use of force and coercion to change borders has no place in the 21st century,” the release concluded.