No sanctions on Russia, but Syria on the table: EU

The EU is not considering sanctions against Russia for its role in Syria, but further measures against its ally Damascus are possible, the bloc’s foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini said on Monday.

Foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg showed little appetite for adding to existing sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis despite a call from the United States and Britain for new measures over the carnage in Aleppo.

“This has not been proposed by any member state,” Ms Mogherini said as she arrived for the meeting of 28 European Union ministers dominated by the Syrian crisis when asked about steps against Moscow. “But we have sanctions on the Syrian regime... And there are discussions on that, for sure, (expanding) that could be possible,” added Ms Mogherini, the former Italian foreign minister.

Ms Mogherini said she was “proud” the EU was not a military power party to the conflict, and so it could focus instead on getting those that were to agree a ceasefire, humanitarian help and a lasting political solution.

As for sanctions themselves, “I tend to look at ... Other instruments for leverage,” she added.

EU leaders meeting on Thursday at a summit in Brussels are due to hold what promises to be a difficult review of relations with Russia.