'Putin's best weapon is disunity in the West,' says Luxembourg's Asselborn

The EU28's foreign ministers on Monday decided to delay further sanctions against Russia, "to give diplomacy a chance," explained Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn.

This decision coincided with President Barack Obama's recent delay of the decision on whether the US will deliver weapons to the Ukrainian military.

The Brussels meeting followed an extraordinary foreign affairs council, held on January 28 in light of recent fighting in Mauriopol and the Donbass region.

Confirming what had been discussed during the January summit, the ministers on Monday unanimously adopted an additional list of sanctions for persons and organisations involved in the Ukraine conflict.

However, ministers also decided to delay implementing the sanctions as new talks with Russia are aimed at finding a diplomatic solution.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Asselborn meanwhile warned of cracks in the EU's common standpoint towards Russia. "Putin's best weapon against Ukraine is disunity in the West," he said. "This has to be avoided at all costs."

Other conflicts addressed

Monday's foreign affairs council also treated developments southwest of the union's borders. It examined what contributions the EU could add to those made by the head of the United Nations support mission in Libya, Bernadino León.

Further issues discussed were the deteriorating security situations in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, with ministers exchanging views on the union's common strategy for this region.

Finally, the council addressed the different aspects of European policy that can be used to respond to the threat posed by international terrorism. 

By Daniel Isaksson

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