European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed to hold Moscow accountable, car they said sanctions would be imposed to degrade Russia. economy.
“In these dark hours our thoughts are with Ukraine and the Innocents women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and the fear for their life,” they said on Twitter.
Von der Leyen noted that the European Union wants to suppress the Russian economy growth by penalties, car stability of Europe is at stake.
She noted that there is plans to “immediately welcome and accommodate” refugees from Ukraine and to support people moved inside in the country.
the plans were made in the framework of of larger preparations in the event of a Russian attack, she said, notably steps to improve the bloc’s cybersecurity and diversify gas supplies.
NATO activation defense plans for allies
NATO active son “defense plans” for ally countries as Russia attacks non-NATO Ukraine, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg told a media conference on Thusday.
Stoltenberg also confirmed that NATO will hold a video summit on Friday to discuss Russia invasion of son pro-Western neighbor.
And he repeated that NATO had not “plansto send alliance troops to Ukraine.
It’s the first when the alliance publicly declared that it was activating son defense plans that were drawn up after Russia 2014 invasion and annexation of The Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine.
Stoltenberg did not give details of them beyond say they are”defensive plans”enabling deployments that “cover all of eastern of our alliance” and who “give our military certain commanders more authority within politically defined guidelines.
He said he would include elements of NATO’s rapid reaction force of 40,000 soldiers including a highly prepared unit of 7,000 staffmore of them French, and a air wing under French command.
Stoltenberg said Friday’s summit would be also include non-NATO Sweden and Finland, and EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel.
The NATO chief said that invasion would have “long-term effects” on the relationship of the western alliance with Russia and NATO’s security posture.
“We don’t have all the answers today. But it will be a new reality. It will be a new Europe after the invasion we saw today,” he said.
Russia, he said, had not taken “serious” efforts to find a political solution to the tensions that preceded son military attack on Ukraine.
“So Russia has shut the door to a political solution. We regret it. But it is unfortunately the reality which has serious and very serious consequences for the people of Ukraine, but also really affects safety for all of us.
“And that’s the reason Why us step up our presence in the eastern part of alliance,” he said.
