EU at limit of financial sanctions against Russia – Borrell

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on Thursday that the EU “has reached the limit of its capabilities in terms of financial sanctions against Russia.” He added that it would be “much more difficult” for the union to ban Russian energy imports than it was for the United States, as the EU depends more on Russian supply. EU leaders are meeting in France on Thursday to discuss further sanctions against Moscow, including a possible oil import ban.

In an interview for Franceinfo, Borrell asserted the EU will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until the conflict ends, but he conceded the bloc must avoid starting a war with Russia, “because that would be World War III.” He stated Russia is “systematically bombing Ukrainian towns,” adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin “will have to answer for his actions.”