Turkey urged to align with EU sanctions

European Council President Charles Michel is certain that member-states will adopt the sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, including a ban on oil imports. In an exclusive interview with Kathimerini at the airport of Alexandroupoli in northern Greece, where he attended the launch of the new floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), Michel said that the EU and the US are “on the same page” regarding the delivery of heavy artillery to Ukraine.

Asked about Russia’s rubles-for-gas demand, Michel said that “the best answer is the decision, which we will take immediately, on the sixth sanctions package [which] will be designed so that it is as painful as possible for the Kremlin, and not painful to ourselves.”

In a thinly disguised reference to Turkey, Michel says, “We are trying to convince all third countries – and especially the ones that are candidates for membership – to align themselves with the sanctions imposed by the EU and to not leave open any loopholes.”

Turning to the prospect of a Hungarian veto on a European embargo on Russian oil, he said that “the European Council in the last two years has managed systematically to make decisions in difficult circumstances” and “this will happen now as well.” He added that “sooner or later” the embargo will also have to be extended to gas.

Analysts have expressed concern that the size of US military help to Ukraine and the rhetoric of the Biden administration could trigger a more extreme response from Russia.

“We are exactly on the same page,” Michel said, pointing to the activation of the European Peace Facility (EPF) after the February 24 invasion. “From the start of the invasion, the level of coordination – inside the EU, between NATO members – has been very high, at the highest level,” he said.

Speaking of the FSRU, Michel said “it is exactly the kind of project we need so that we can have more choice, be more independent, be masters of our destiny. It’s a very important project, not only for Greece but for the wider region.”