The European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Monday evaluates situation after the so-called referendum in Crimea, which EU considers illegal and opposite to Ukrainian constitution and international law.
The Council is expected to decide on additional measures in line with the declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the EU of 6 March.
“So first of all we have to think very carefully about what the response ought to be and there should be a response,” EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said upon arrival at the meeting.
She called upon Russia “yet again to meet with Ukrainian leaders and to start dialogue with them, and to try and move to de-escalation, as quickly as possible. We’ve seen no evidence of that.”
“We’re also trying to send the strongest possible signals to Russia in our work today and later this week with heads of state and government. And it’s the signal of trying to ensure that they understand the seriousness of the situation, but also a signal that we do genuinely believe that there needs to be a dialogue, there needs to be a way through this that can actually lead to the territorial integrity of Ukraine being assured and good and strong relations with Russia for Ukraine and for the European Union,” Ashton said.
The High Representative will also brief EU Ministers on her last week’s visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the situation in Sarajevo after last month’s protests.
“We’re trying to look at the broadest possible way of helping them economically and politically to move forward. This is a country that really does need leaders to show leadership and to move forward. I was hearing about 60 percent youth unemployment, and hearing about the situation from civil society and the reasons why people felt the need to demonstrate,” Ashton said.
