EU levies fresh Russian sanctions, foreign ministers debate next steps

CGTN Europe

As foreign ministers convened in Brussels and leaders in Kyiv, the bloc has also announced $3.6bn in financial support for Ukraine next month.   Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2ed6t4t6  #ukraine #russia

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00:00Behind me, at the European Commission, you can see Ukrainian flags alongside the flags of the European Union,

00:07but foreign ministers here in Brussels are adamant that Ukraine's solidarity will extend beyond just words or even gestures.

00:17They say there must be real action behind it to show that Ukraine and the bloc are interwoven when it comes to peace and security.

00:27That is why, as well as the actions taken that we've heard from Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa in Kiev,

00:34there have been actions from member states as well here in Brussels with this 16th round of sanctions on Russia.

00:42Kai Callas, the EU's foreign affairs chief, says that it aims to weaken the Russian war effort

00:48and aims to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions that are already in place.

00:53That is why some 74 additional oil tankers have been included in these sanctions,

00:59which means now more than 150 of the so-called Russian shadow fleet have been sanctioned to try and prevent their export of oil.

01:09As well, including these sanctions, wrought aluminium will now be blocked from entering the EU.

01:15It currently accounts for around 6% of the EU's aluminium imports.

01:22Restrictions on gaming remote, that's to do with drone usage as well.

01:29So a raft of things included in this latest sanctions package.

01:33Kai Callas also saying that foreign ministers discussed new defence initiatives, including bringing more ammunition to Kiev in the short term.

01:41She said that those details will be hammered out when member states' leaders gather on March 6th for an emergency summit.

01:50Okay, so lots of details there on sanctions on Russia.

01:53But the EU's also suspended a range of sanctions against Syria. Tell us about that.

02:02That's absolutely right.

02:03Well, plenty of the sanctioned easing is focused on the energy and transportation sectors for Damascus.

02:10It's also included easing restrictions on four Syrian banks, as well as a Syrian airline, too.

02:19According to the European Union, they say they are closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Syria.

02:26And they're considering easing further restrictions in the future as they wait to see how things in the country develop.

02:34They are very much hoping that as things progress, that any kind of a new government in Syria will be as inclusive as possible.

02:43So very much a fluid situation as far as the European Union is concerned.

02:48But essentially, these actions show that the country is moving, at least as they're concerned at the moment, in the right direction.

02:54William Denslow in Brussels. Thank you very much.

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