The European Union announced a series of sanctions against Russia on Sunday, through the voice of Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission.
450 million euros to finance the purchase and delivery of arms to Ukraine
Brussels will propose to the Twenty-Seven to use an emergency funding line from the EU “to provide Ukrainian forces with lethal weapons, as well as fuel, protective equipment and medical supplies”. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, specified that this was a first for the Union.
“An agreement has been reached to supply arms to the Ukrainian army for a value of 450 million and protective equipment and fuel for 50 million. All of this will be covered by our Peace Facility and our Intergovernmental Fund. It is the first time in history that we are going to do so,” said Josep Borrell after a videoconference meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Airspace closed to Russian planes
The European Union will close all of its airspace to all Russian planes, including the private jets of the oligarchs. “We propose (to the Twenty-Seven) to ban all planes belonging to Russians, registered in Russia or controlled by Russian interests. They will no longer be able to land, take off or fly over EU territory,” said the head of the European executive, Ursula von der Leyen, as European countries multiplied announcements to ban Russian companies from their skies.
Russian media RT and Sputnik banned from EU
Russian state media Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik are to be banned from the European Union. “We are going to ban the Kremlin’s media machine in the EU. State media Russia Today and Sputnik, as well as their affiliates, will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin’s war and to sow division in our Union,” Ursula von der Leyen announced.
RT is very popular in France on social networks, its Facebook page is followed by 1.2 million people. For now, the channel is still active.
RT France denounces an attack on “freedom of expression”
The president of RT France, Xenia Fedorova, reacted strongly, denouncing “censorship” and an attack “on the very principles of freedom of expression”. RT France (176 employees including 100 journalists) warned in a press release that it would “defend its rights” and challenge this decision in court.