| Author (Corporate) | European Council |
|---|---|
| Publisher | EU |
| Series Title | Press Release |
| Series Details | 06.03.14 |
| Publication Date | 06/03/2014 |
| Content Type | News |
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Reports of, and external reaction to, the situation in Ukraine covering the 6 March 2014 after Russia had taken effective control of the Crimea region within Ukraine ostensibly to protect its citizens and interests [for the background to the situation and developments in the previous days see the ESO: Background Information links below]. The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, convened an extraordinary meeting of EU Heads of State or Government on the 6 March 2014 to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The EU Heads of State or Government discussed the latest developments in Ukraine and how to facilitate the necessary de-escalation of the situation. EurActiv highlighted Europe's high dependency on Russian gas imports as an important feature to be taken into account. Also attending the meeting was Ukraine’s interim Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk in a symbolic act of support by the EU. Following the European Council summit, the EU said it was suspending talks with Moscow on easing visa travel restrictions on Russians entering the EU. EurActiv reported on the 11 March 2014 that while Poland was pushing for the EU to offer EU membership perspectives to Ukraine, France denied that possibility. It said that if Russia did not move to de-escalate the situation quickly, it would 'decide on additional measures, such as travel bans, asset freezes and the cancellation of the EU-Russia summit'. On the same day, MPs in the Crimea parliament voted to ask Russia to allow the southern Ukrainian region to become part of the Russian Federation. The Supreme Council of Crimea decided to hold a referendum on the matter on the 16 March 2014, a move Ukraine’s election commission had said was unconstitutional. The EU and US both joined Ukraine's government in condemning as 'illegal' the move by the Crimea region. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also told Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk on the 6 March 2014 that 'in these difficult moments, NATO stands by Ukraine. NATO stands by the right of every nation to decide its own future. NATO stands by Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and by the fundamental principles of international law'. |
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| Source Link | http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2014/03/06/ |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
| Countries / Regions | Europe, Russia, Ukraine |
