The European Union (EU) has prepared a strong and comprehensive package of
sanctions to be imposed on Russia if it continues its aggression against
Ukraine.
The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told the
newspapers Handeslblatt and Les Echos.
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Russia, which seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and supports separatists in
the country's east, has amassed some 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian
border and is demanding security guarantees including a NATO pledge never to
accept Kiev's membership.
"We have prepared a strong and comprehensive package of financial and
economic sanctions," von der Leyen told the two newspapers.
He added that these include restrictions on access to foreign capital and
export controls, especially on technical goods.
The Baltic Sea's controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline is also part of the
sanctions package.
"Whether the pipeline can operate depends on the behavior of Russia", said
von der Leyen.
"People close to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and the oligarchs can of
course be sensitively exposed," he added.
The United States has accused Russia of preparing a false flag operation as
a pretext to attack Ukraine.
Russia has formulated several options as a pretext for attacking Ukraine,
including the potential use of propaganda videos showing a staged attack,
the US said, as the Kremlin condemned the deployment of American troops in
the region.
The Kremlin accused Washington of ignoring its calls to ease the standoff, a
day after the US announced it would send nearly 3,000 additional troops to
Poland and Romania.
