“Will they say goodbye”
EU and G7 announce new Russia sanctions
09/22/2022, 08:07 am
The West is reacting to the partial Russian mobilization and the renewed threat of nuclear weapons: the EU and G7 are promising new sanctions. Exactly what that should look like remains largely unclear – but EU foreign policy chief Borrell is making initial suggestions.
After Russia’s partial mobilization and threats to use nuclear weapons, the European Union and the G7 states have announced further sanctions against Moscow. “We will examine new restrictive measures, we will pass them,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell after a special meeting of EU foreign ministers on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York. The foreign ministers of the G7 countries also announced further sanctions. Borrell indicated that new sanctions would target both individuals and specific industries. A final decision will be made at a formal meeting, he added.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin ordered the partial mobilization of Russians of military age on Wednesday morning. According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, 300,000 reservists are to reinforce the Russian and separatist forces in southern and eastern Ukraine.
Putin also indirectly threatened the use of nuclear monkeys. Russia will use all “available means” to protect its territory, he said in his televised address to the nation. “Those who are trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the tide can also turn in their direction.”
More help for Ukraine
The Russian President’s statements were sharply condemned by Western countries. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries and EU foreign policy chief Borrell called on Russia to “immediately end its aggression, withdraw its troops and military equipment from Ukraine and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty”.
The G7 would also “aim for further targeted sanctions,” said the statement, which the Federal Foreign Office published after a meeting of the foreign ministers with Borrell in New York. Since Germany currently holds the presidency of the G7, the meeting was chaired by Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens). Borrell and Baerbock will attend a UN Security Council meeting on the Ukraine war on Thursday.
In addition to sanctions against Russia, Western government officials in New York announced further support for Ukraine. New British Prime Minister Liz Truss said in her first speech to the UN General Assembly that the partial mobilization only shows the “catastrophic failure” of the Russian invasion. She vowed to provide military support to Kyiv “for as long as necessary”: “We will not rest until Ukraine wins.”