The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, criticized on Friday, 16, Russia President Vladimir Putin, for not attending peace negotiations in Turkey and promised to expand pressure on the Russian government with more economic sanctions, in comments on the European Safety Summit in Albania.
Von der Leyen stated that Putin’s absence demonstrates “his true convictions” and that he “does not want peace,” while Ukraine President Volodimir Zelenski is ready to commit to a ceasefire and start direct negotiations with Russia. “Therefore, we will increase the pressure until Putin is ready for peace,” said the leader of the European Union Executive Arm (EU), as shown on Friday.
According to her, a new package of sanctions is being prepared and will target the parallel fleet of old cargo ships that Russia is using to circumvent international sanctions and the Nord Stream pipeline consortium. Von der Leyen also intends to reduce the limit ceiling on Russian oil prices and put more restrictions on the financial sector. The bloc’s foreign ministers can promulgate him on Tuesday, he said.
Putin has also been criticized by other European leaders, in comments to reporters on the arrival of the summit in Albania – which will have the large -scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia at the top of the safety challenges agenda on the continent. The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Mark Rutte, classified Putin’s decision as a “error” and added that the Russian President needs “takes the desire for peace seriously.” “All the pressure is now over it,” Rutte said, around the summit.
Zelenski made no comment when he arrived for the summit, walking with Prime Minister Albanese, Edi Rama, through the red carpet, passing through the press reunited.
Already the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Stmerer, accused Putin of being “wrapping” to sign a peace agreement. Italy’s premie, Giorgia Meloni, emphasized that efforts to reach an agreement on Ukraine should continue and that leaders should insist on seeking an “unconditional ceasefire” with safety guarantees.
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Russia is the only large unlisted European power, along with Belarus, its neighbor and supporter in the war with Ukraine. The next meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) will take place in Denmark later this year.
In closing a visit for the Middle East, US President Donald Trump reiterated on Friday that he understands Putin’s absence in Turkey and said he intends to talk directly with him as soon as possible. “We will solve this or not, but at least we will know. If we do not resolve, it will be very interesting,” he said, adding that he can call the Russian president soon.
