EU foreign ministers begin talks on Russia sanctions

By Ann Cahill, Europe Correspondent

Tough negotiations are underway in Brussels with the new Greek government over fears that they would destroy the delicate EU unity against Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

The new Greek foreign minister Nikos Kotzias would not say where he stood on moves to extend sanctions against Russia over the attacks on the Ukrainian town of Mariupol.

The new left-wing Syriza government in Athens had complained it was not consulted about a statement put out by Donald Tusk, representing the EU members, talking about new sanctions. Brussels said they had been consulted.

Ireland’s foreign minister Charlie Flanagan on his way into the emergency meeting said the situation in Ukraine had reached crisis level. “It is essential that the EU responds in a firm way with one voice”, he said.

Minister Kotzias, a former professor of political theory in Piraeus University, said that Greece was working for the restoration of peace and stability in Ukraine.

“At the same time we [Greece] is working for the preventing a rift between the EU and Russia”.

However the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevicius, favoured increasing sanctions against Russia saying they had chosen the path of self isolation rather than being rational.

The attacks on civilians were deliberate from a region controlled by terrorists, he said.

“What happened was a deliberate attack on civilians from a region controlled by terrorists… the number of professional Russian troops on Ukraine territory increased, they are still providing heavy equipment, tanks, rocket launchers, air control systems from headquarters - this is a Russian controlled war against Ukraine”.

"People protested in Paris over the deaths there. How many more people should be killed in order to say “Je suis Ukranian”. Unity is important. Decency is more important."

The meeting is expected not to agree new sanctions but may recommend that EU leaders extend the lists when they meet next month.