Mogherini: Sanctions vs Russia over Syria not on EU summit agenda

BRUSSELS, Oct 20 (PRIME) -- A scale-up of sanctions against Russia over the Syrian events is not a matter to be discussed at a summit of the E.U. taking place on Thursday–Friday, Federica Mogherini, E.U. foreign policy chief, told reporters before the summit.

“The issue of sanctions against Russia concerning Syria is not an issue for discussion and decision-making today, as well as three days ago at a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg,” Mogherini said.

The E.U. is now firstly focused on an urgent delivery of the humanitarian aid to Aleppo and life saving, and the authorities are trying to ensure an as long as possible duration of the ceasefire via diplomatic channels, she said. Brussels also wants to create political opportunities for solution of the conflict, Mogherini said.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said that the E.U. leaders have not expressed a united position regarding a possible introduction of further sanctions against Russia.

“Assaults on hospitals, humanitarian convoys are totally unacceptable. We need to tackle this. Sanctions can become one of the options but I do not think that there is a unity, our position in application of sanctions is not united. But I think that they must be discussed, this is an option for the future,” Lofven said.

Bloomberg reported earlier in the day that the draft resolution of the summit contains a clause envisaging introduction of sanctions against Russia over Syria.

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