Macron also warns Russia of new “massive sanctions” | War Ukraine and Russia

Read everything about the war in Ukraine in this file.

Macron assured that Europeans are ready to “go to extremes” to support Ukraine, without becoming a belligerent themselves. “We are not at war,” stressed the French president.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed disappointment that European leaders have not opened the way for his country’s rapid membership. “I understand the emotional reaction and the expectations,” Macron acknowledged. He emphasized once again that Ukraine is “part of the European family” and can count on continued cooperation and support for reconstruction. “But can we take exceptional measures for a country at war without respecting the criteria for accession? The answer is no.”

While his diplomatic efforts have so far failed to stop the violence of war, Macron will also speak with Putin again later in the day. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also participate in the conversation. Scholz made it clear again earlier that an embargo on the import of Russian energy for Germany is currently impossible. Austria is also shying away from that serious sanction. “Austria cannot say now: we are giving up Russian gas. We need that,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

In the meantime, the EU has announced a fourth package of sanctions, together with international partners such as the US. They target, among other things, the Russian trade advantages within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Moscow’s access to financing from international organizations such as the World Bank and the IMF. In addition, the EU will ban the export of luxury goods to Russia and new European investment in the Russian energy sector, as well as the import of important goods in the iron and steel sector from Russia. “This will hit a central sector of the Russian system, denying billions in export revenues,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

High Representative Josep Borrell also announced Friday morning that the EU will spend an additional €500 million on arms supplies to Ukraine, but some leaders stressed after the summit that that decision had not yet been taken. However, Scholz expects member states to approve the proposal. “I don’t believe anyone thinks Borrell is wrong when he says the EU should go further in this area,” the German chancellor said. And “this amount is on the table”.

The Russian military invasion of Ukraine strengthened the belief of Macron and other leaders that the EU must accelerate its “sovereignty” and “strategic autonomy”. “Two weeks ago we woke up in a different Europe, in a different world,” said European Council President Charles Michel.

The focus is on defense and energy. The aim is to identify investment needs by May to strengthen operational defense capabilities and reduce dependence on Russian gas and oil. Once the costs are known, a decision will be made on financing, it says. Macron, along with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, are pushing to jointly finance part of the costs with new European bonds. Others hold off. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) finds mutualization “useful” when it comes to investments in, for example, LNG infrastructure (liquid natural gas). “But it is less evident for the financing of running costs,” it sounds.

In his own words, De Croo also feels increasing support for the idea of ​​temporarily capping gas prices at European level, combined with measures to ensure supply. It is up to the Commission to put forward proposals within two weeks. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte continues to make reservations about the track of his Belgian counterpart. “We are going to map it all out and we will see how things are going on that point in two weeks. There are no taboos, neither with him nor with me,” said Rutte.