EU statement on Crimea

[ProSense]

Joint statement on Crimea by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso

As stated by all 28 EU Heads of State or Government on 6 March 2014, the European Union considers the holding of the referendum on the future status of the territory of Ukraine as contrary to the Ukrainian Constitution and international law. The referendum is illegal and illegitimate and its outcome will not be recognised.

The solution to the crisis in Ukraine must be based on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, in the framework of the Ukrainian Constitution as well as the strict adherence to international standards. Only working together through diplomatic processes, including direct discussions between the Governments of Ukraine and Russia, can we find a solution to the crisis. The European Union has a special responsibility for peace, stability and prosperity on the European continent and will continue pursuing these objectives using all available channels.

We reiterate the strong condemnation of the unprovoked violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and call on Russia to withdraw its armed forces to their pre-crisis numbers and the areas of their permanent stationing, in accordance with relevant agreements.

In advancing these goals, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs will evaluate the situation tomorrow in Brussels and decide on additional measures in line with the declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the EU of 6 March.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/141566.pdf

Members:

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom

[William769]

1. Thanks for posting this.

[okaawhatever]

2. I wonder what they will come up with. I think they will hold back on the worst to in case Putin

also invades Ukraine proper.

[ProSense]

3. Sanctions

"I wonder what they will come up with. I think they will hold back on the worst to in case Putin also invades Ukraine proper."

...were announced today. It's likely these will expand if Putin ignores the international community.

EU imposes sanctions after Crimea moves to join Russia

By Aleksandar Vasovic and Adrian Croft

(Reuters) - The European Union is to impose sanctions including asset freezes and travel bans on 21 officials from Russia and Ukraine after Crimea applied to join Russia on Monday following a weekend referendum, Lithuania's foreign minister said.

Crimea's leaders declared a Soviet-style 97-percent result in favor of seceding from Ukraine in a vote condemned as illegal by Kiev and the West.

After a meeting lasting around three hours, the EU's 28 foreign ministers agreed on a list of those to be sanctioned for their part in Russia's seizure of Crimea and Sunday's referendum on joining Russia.

The ministers had "just agreed on sanctions - travel restrictions & assets freeze against 21 officials from Ukraine & Russia," Lithuanian foreign minister Linan Linkevicius wrote in a message on Twitter.

- more -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/17/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140317

[Cha]

4. K&R.. So many aren't Dupes for Putin.. what's up

with that?!

[SunsetDreams]

5. K&R thanks for posting nt

[Cha]

6. The EU Does Not recognize the "referendum" as legitimate.

"As stated by all 28 EU Heads of State or Government on 6 March 2014, the European Union considers the holding of the referendum on the future status of the territory of Ukraine as contrary to the Ukrainian Constitution and international law. The referendum is illegal and illegitimate and its outcome will not be recognised."

[ProSense]

7. More on potential impact of sanctions:

Londongrad Dealmakers Face Sanctions Hit After $180 Billion Boom

By Matthew Campbell and Morgane Lapeyre

Russian companies have made $180 billion in deals globally in the past two years, providing steady profits to London bankers, lawyers, and image crafters as the city has become a hub for such transactions. Sanctions planned by the U.S. and European Union threaten that business.

The potential fallout highlights the web of connections linking Russia to the global financial system. Since many large Russian companies are controlled by the state or by billionaires with close ties to President Vladimir Putin, even narrowly targeted sanctions could hurt their global operations.

<...>

“There’s a huge amount of business, both industrial and financial, in both directions between the West and Russia,” said Dominic Sanders, a partner in Moscow at law firm Linklaters. “The further the sanctions and retaliation go, the greater the pain.”

While wealthy Russians have fanned out across Europe, with businesses incorporated in Luxembourg and Cyprus and homes in Switzerland and the south of France, their impact has been most keenly felt in the British capital. Advisory professionals in the city, dubbed “Londongrad” in a 2010 book by journalists Mark Hollingsworth and Stuart Lansley, have been instrumental in Russian deals.

<...>

The instability spawned by the Ukraine crisis is beginning to dent that. Billionaire Vladimir Evtushenkov’s children-goods retailer Detsky Mir Group is postponing a planned London share sale because of tensions over Crimea, according to people familiar with the matter. The company declined to comment.

- more -

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-03-17/londongrad-dealmakers-face-sanctions-hit-after-180-billion-boom

Foreign Investors in Russia Vital to Sanctions Debate

By LANDON THOMAS JR.

As the United States and Europe move to punish Russia for its conduct in Ukraine and Crimea with official sanctions, a subtle approach could prove more powerful: pressuring large global investors to reduce their sizable holdings in Russia.

Since central banks began injecting enormous amounts of cash into the worldwide economy in 2009, more than a quarter of a trillion dollars has flowed into the coffers of Russia Inc., part of a broad push by yield-hungry investors into emerging markets.

Most has found its way to companies controlled by the state. Gazprom, the Russian energy giant at the heart of evolving dispute with the West, counts the American mutual fund giants Pimco and BlackRock among its largest investors and creditors...some analysts and economists are pushing for an end to this easy money, a move that would choke off critical funds.

Officials are not likely to take such a major step soon — or ever. Governments are loath to interfere with the free flow of capital; the Obama administration has urged caution in pushing measures that might upset fragile markets. And institutions, with a penchant for profit, generally do not like such restrictions.

- more -

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/03/17/foreign-investors-in-russia-vital-to-sanctions-debate/

[steve2470]

8. fascist apologizers all

in case I need to