EU seeks unity on Ukraine
European Union foreign ministers tried to overcome differences at crisis talks on Ukraine yesterday, with ex-Soviet satellites demanding sanctions and a possible arms embargo against Russia but others favouring soft diplomacy.
A draft statement under discussion that was seen by AFP, demands Russia "immediately withdraw its armed forces" to their Crimea bases in line with international treaties.
While calling for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, the draft warns that failing "an agreed solution", the 28-nation bloc will consider "targeted measures, including an arms embargo."
These words were in brackets, however, meaning ministers might decide to change or remove them during their closed-door discussions.
Hawkish ministers from EU nations once in the Soviet sphere went into the talks demanding sanctions such as visa bans or assets freezes against Russia.
Others opted for a softer approach -- such as substituting "confrontation with dialogue.
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