EU suspends visa talks with Russia over Ukraine
European Council's president says EU will introduce more measures if negotiated solution is not found.
EU leaders have decided to suspend bilateral talks with the Russian Federation on visa matters, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said Thursday.
Rompuy shared the EU's "three-step approach" at a joint press conference with Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission's President, following an extraordinary meeting of EU Heads of State and Government on Ukraine.
The leaders also decided to suspend talks on strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations with Russia, and to support the decision of the European Members of the G8 and the EU institutions to suspend their participation in G8 Summit preparations, Rompuy said.
He stressed that the solution to the crisis should be found through negotiations between Ukraine and Russia's governments.
"In the absence of such results, the European Union will decide on additional measures, such as travel bans, asset freezes and the cancellation of the EU-Russia summit," Rompuy said.
Any further steps by Russia to destabilise the situation in Ukraine would lead to severe and far-reaching consequences for bilateral relations, including a broad range of economic areas, Rompuy added.
"Acts of aggression cannot be without consequences," he said. "At the end of the day, dialogue is the only way out."
Barroso added that the EU willing to contribute to a negotiated solution in Ukraine and will ensure the signings of agreements between the EU and Ukraine are prioritized.
Meanwhile, the EU Heads of State and Government issued a joint statement calling on Russia to immediately withdraw its armed forces to their bases and enable immediate access for international monitors.
They also stressed that the solution to the crisis in Ukraine must be based on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as the strict adherence to international standards.
"We consider that the decision by the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to hold a referendum on the future status of the territory is contrary to the Ukrainian Constitution and therefore illegal," they added.
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