EU ready for 'never-seen-before' sanctions if Russia attacks Ukraine

BRUSSELS:

The European Union is ready to impose "never-seen-before" economic sanctions on Russia if it attacks Ukraine, Denmark said on Monday, and EU foreign ministers said they would send a unified warning to Moscow.

East-West tensions have risen since Russia massed troops near Ukraine's border, with Western countries fearing Moscow is preparing an invasion. Russia denies such plans.

Divergent interests in the 27-nation EU could hinder efforts to agree a joint position, and the EU is sidelined by direct Russia-US talks, but ministers said it was essential to find unity.

"Knowing Russia's tactics, I'm sure one of their aims is to splinter the West," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said as ministers gathered for regular talks in Brussels. "This is a victory we cannot afford to give to the Russians."

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told reporters: "There's no doubt we are ready to react with comprehensive, never-seen-before sanctions if Russia were to invade Ukraine again."

Also read: Germany urges 'prudence' in potential sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

He declined to say what sectors would be targeted.

"Russia should know, (President Vladimir) Putin should know that the price of using provocations and military forces to change borders in Europe will be very, very high... We are ready to undertake the most severe sanctions, also more severe than in 2014," he said.

The EU, along with the United States, imposed economic sanctions on Moscow targeting its energy, banking and defence sectors after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

US Senate Democrats have unveiled a bill to potentially punish Russian officials, military leaders and banking institutions. The EU says it is working with Washington on a sanctions package but has given no details.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged Europe and the United States to think carefully when considering sanctions.

Also read: UN chief says he is 'convinced' Russia will not invade Ukraine

Asked whether cutting Russia off from the SWIFT global messaging system should be an option, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in Brussels the "hardest stick" may not always be the best way to deal with such a situation.

Gas dependency

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said everything was on the table but also pointed to Austria's dependency on Russia for 40% of its gas.

Asked about potential sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany, which is yet to win regulatory approval, he said sanctioning something that is not yet operative was not a credible threat.

Also read: Blinken says Russian attack on Ukraine could come at very short notice

Blinken is expected to join the EU meeting online at around 1400 GMT.

The top US and Russian diplomats made no major breakthrough at talks on Ukraine on Friday but agreed to keep talking.

"We are here to do everything we can so that war does not break out," Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said.

For now, the EU does not plan to withdraw diplomats' families from Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after Washington announced such a move.

The British Embassy in Ukraine said some of its staff and dependants were being withdrawn from Kyiv.