NO UNANIMITY FOR NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA

The 28-nation bloc's Heads of State and Government tasked the European Commission to "urgently" prepare tougher economic sanctions against Russia that could be adopted within a week. The decision on new sanctions will depend on the evolution of the situation on the ground. The EU leaders call on Russia to "immediately withdraw all its military assets and forces from Ukraine.

The new sanctions would target the same sectors as previous punitive measures, which also included an export ban for some high technology and oil exploration equipment.

However, the EU is divided regarding sanctions against Russia:

1. Some countries want to respond straight away,
2. Some want time to consider the new sanctions, and
3. Some demand a right of veto over the new measures.

New economic sanctions against Russia would require the unanimous backing of all the EU member states which is far from certain as a number of countries may use their right of veto:  For Slovakia, sanctions will become senseless and counter-productive and would threaten EU’s economic growth. For Hungary; the sanctions policy pursued by the West are causing more harm to the EU than to Russia. For the Czech Republic, the sanctions against Russia will not work but will harm economic relations and increase distrust among states.

Furthermore, it is clear that new sanctions against Russia will trigger new sanctions against the EU.