The EU has Prepared a Number of New Sanctions against Russia

The President of the European Commission called on Russia to de-escalate the situation around Ukraine The chief executive of the European Union has warned Russia that the bloc has prepared a number of new sanctions in case Moscow decides to invade neighboring Ukraine. On the eve of the EU summit on this issue, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that in addition to strengthening and expanding existing sanctions, the EU could take “unprecedented measures with serious consequences for Russia.” Von der Leyen told the European Parliament that economic sanctions are already in effect against the financial, energy and other sectors of the Russian economy, imposed in connection with the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea in 2014 and actions that the West perceives as increasingly aggressive. She did not specify what the new sanctions might be. “First of all, I call on Russia to de–escalate, use diplomatic channels and fulfill its international obligations,” von der Leyen said. Голос Америки