Charles Michel
The head of the European Council Charles Michel said that his trip to Ukraine is of great importance for making important decisions regarding Russia at the level of the European Union (EU). His words were reported by RIA Novosti on Wednesday, March 3.
“Last week on Monday, for the first time, we decided to apply sanctions in connection with the situation with [Alexei] Navalny ( founder of the Anti-Corruption Fund, included by the Ministry of Justice in the register of organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent ). This means that we are fully committed and united in Europe to be very tough, decisive, to promote our values, to protect our interests, ”the President of the European Council said at a press conference after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev.
Michel recalled that “at the end of March we will again have a strategic debate at the European level with all heads of state, with all heads of government, in order to assess the situation and take clear measures.” “When it comes to our common interest, we want to play a stronger role for greater stability, security, predictability,” he said.
So the head of the European Council answered the question of whether the EU will impose sanctions against Russia for violation of human rights in the “occupied territories of Ukraine.” “And that is why this meeting today with the president and his team, and yesterday, was very important for me – to try to cooperate, have the same understanding, level of information, and make some important decisions. We are in the same boat, we share the same values, the same interests. Today and yesterday was an important moment, ”he concluded.
Relations between Kiev and Moscow deteriorated sharply after the reunification of Crimea with Russia in March 2014 and the outbreak of conflict in Donbass in April of the same year. Part of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence. Kiev tried to return them by force, but to no avail. Ukraine accuses Russia of armed aggression and occupation of Crimea and Donbass regions. The Kremlin rejects the claim.
