PRESS

European Council
EN

Dirk De Backer - Spokesperson of the President - T +32 (0)2 281 !"8 - # +32 (0)$! % 1
Pre&en 'a(ann - Dep)t* Spokesperson of the President - T +32 (0)2 281 20"0 - # +32 (0)$!" 8% 0% $3
press+president,consi-i)(+e)ropa+e) - ...+e)ropean-co)nci-+e)ropa+e)/the-president 1/2

STATEMENT

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Statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van
Rompuy and the President of the European Commission in the name of
the European Union on the areed additional restricti!e measures
aainst Russia

Toda* the E)ropean 0nion has a6reed a packa6e of si6nificant additiona- restricti7e (eas)res
tar6etin6 sectora- cooperation and e8chan6es .ith the 3)ssian 9ederation+ These decisions .i--
-i(it access to E0 capita- (arkets for 3)ssian State-o.ned financia- instit)tions4 i(pose an
e(&ar6o on trade in ar(s4 esta&-ish an e8port &an for d)a- )se 6oods for (i-itar* end )sers4 and
c)rtai- 3)ssian access to sensiti7e techno-o6ies partic)-ar-* in the fie-d of the oi- sector+
This packa6e reinforces the recent-* e8panded -istin6 of persons and entities )nder(inin6
0krainian territoria- inte6rit* and so7erei6nt*4 inc-)din6 the so-ca--ed :cronies:4 the s)spension of
E;B and EB3D financin64 the restriction of in7est(ent and trade .ith 1ri(ea and Se7astopo- and
the reassess(ent of the 3)ssia E0 &i-atera- cooperation .ith a 7ie. to red)cin6 the -e7e- of the
cooperation+
The packa6e responds to directions 6i7en &* the E)ropean 1o)nci- of 1" 5)-*+ ;t is (eant as a
stron6 .arnin6< i--e6a- anne8ation of territor* and de-i&erate desta&i-isation of a nei6h&o)rin6
so7erei6n co)ntr* cannot &e accepted in 21st cent)r* E)rope+ 9)rther(ore4 .hen the 7io-ence
created spira-s o)t of contro- and -eads to the ki--in6 of a-(ost 300 innocent ci7i-ians in their f-i6ht
fro( the Nether-ands to #a-a*sia4 the sit)ation re=)ires )r6ent and deter(ined response+ The
E)ropean 0nion .i-- f)-fi- its o&-i6ations to protect and ens)re the sec)rit* of its citi>ens+ 'nd the
E)ropean 0nion .i-- stand &* its nei6h&o)rs and partners+

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Since the &e6innin6 of the 0krainian crisis4 the E)ropean 0nion has &een ca--in6 on the 3)ssian
-eadership to .ork to.ards a peacef)- reso-)tion+ ?e ha7e done this co--ecti7e-* and &i-atera--*+ ;
re6ret to sa* that despite so(e (i8ed (essa6es co(in6 fro( #osco.4 and e8chan6es in the
Nor(and* and other for(ats4 there has &een scarce de-i7er* on co((it(ents+ 2)r ca-- has &een4
in practice4 -eft )nheeded+ 'r(s and fi6hters contin)e f-o.in6 into 0kraine fro( the 3)ssian
9ederation+ Stron6 3)ssian State sponsored nationa-ist propa6anda contin)es s)pportin6 the
i--e6a- actions of ar(ed separatists+ ?e ha7e .itnessed .ith an6er and fr)stration the de-a*s in
pro7idin6 internationa- access to the site of the air crash4 the ta(perin6 .ith the re(ains of the
p-ane4 and the disrespectf)- hand-in6 of the deceased+
The 3)ssian 9ederation and the E)ropean 0nion ha7e i(portant co((on interests+ ?e .i-- &oth
&enefit fro( open and frank dia-o6)e4 fro( increased cooperation and e8chan6es+ B)t .e cannot
p)rs)e this i(portant positi7e a6enda .hen 1ri(ea is i--e6a--* anne8ed4 .hen the 3)ssian
9ederation s)pports ar(ed re7o-t in Eastern 0kraine4 .hen the 7io-ence )n-eashed ki--s innocent
ci7i-ians+
The packa6e of ne. restricti7e (eas)res a6reed toda* &* the E)ropean 0nion constit)tes a
po.erf)- si6na- to the -eaders of the 3)ssian 9ederation< desta&i-isin6 0kraine4 or an* other
Eastern E)ropean nei6h&o)rin6 State4 .i-- &rin6 hea7* costs to its econo(*+ 3)ssia .i-- find itse-f
increasin6-* iso-ated &* its o.n actions+ The E)ropean 0nion re(ains read* to re7erse its
decisions and reen6a6e .ith 3)ssia .hen it starts contri&)tin6 acti7e-* and .itho)t a(&i6)ities to
findin6 a so-)tion to the 0krainian crisis+