Ukraine calls on Europe to be more Baltic after EU sanctions buckle
"We urge all other EU members to follow the example of our Baltic friends," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on social media after Lithuania announced it would impose sanctions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
Ukraine's foreign minister has called on Europe to follow the Baltic nations' example in re-imposing sanctions against two Russian oligarchs. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha praised Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for taking the step on Sept. 23. The sanctions were lifted on the EU level the day before, following a push from France and Slovakia to free two Frenchmen held prisoner in Azerbaijan.
However, the decision was made just before a list of 3,000 EU sanctions against Russia was set to expire. Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Belgium abstained from voting on the compromise to ensure the remaining EU sanctions would hold. In the end, all four abstaining countries announced they would impose sanctions against oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
Sybiha stated that this is the best way to demonstrate that principles are not for sale. It remains to be seen how many of the EU's other 24 member countries will follow the Baltic nations' lead.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
