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EU Foreign Ministers: No Sanctions on Russia

by Marthe van der Wolf

   BRUSSELS --

   European countries will not impose sanctions against Russia for its
   military actions in Syria. Instead, the European Union wants to start
   talks this week about the future of Syria with neighboring countries
   and opposition groups. This was decided during a meeting of European
   foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.

   Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be invited for talks on
   post-conflict Syria by the European Union this week, says foreign
   policy chief Federica Mogherini.

   "This is why we decided to launch a dialogue with key regional partners
   and key actors in the region. To start looking at where political
   transmission might end up. What the regional players and the European
   Union can do to start preparing for a post-conflict in all its
   different strands," she said.

   Mogherini underlines that these new talks, which are to include
   opposition parties and civil society groups, are not to substitute for
   other ongoing initiatives.

   Although the EU strongly called upon Russia to stop the bombings, it
   did not impose any sanctions on Russia, which has been fighting
   alongside the Syrian regime.

   Mogerhini said no EU member state wanted to impose sanctions on Russia.

   "I have seen this has been very much in the media, but not in our
   meetings. In none of our meetings the issue was raised by any of the
   member states. But we have sanctions on the Syrian regime as you know
   and there are discussions on that for sure, that could be possible,"
   said Mogerhini.

   Russia announced an 8-hour cease-fire for this coming Thursday, but
   humanitarian agencies have said they will need a minimum of 12 hours to
   provide aid.

   The EU also called for an end to all military flights over Aleppo, an
   immediate cessation of hostilities and countrywide humanitarian access.