Leaders in the European Union (EU) will impose new sanctions on Russia following its “barbaric attack” on Ukraine.
According to a report from Reuters, the sanctions will include freezing its assets, halting its banks’ access to European financial markets and targeting “Kremlin interests.”
Reuters added that an Emergency Summit will occur on Thursday. President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen said in an emergency statement early Thursday that “President Putin is responsible for bringing war back to Europe” and that the EU will hold him accountable.
“What we are facing is an unprecedented act of aggression by the Russian leadership against a sovereign, independent country,” she added.
"With this package, we will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to key technologies and markets," she continued. "We will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize.”
As Spencer covered, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a “special military operation” in Ukraine as Wednesday turned into Thursday in Eastern Europe. Putin gave televised remarks in Moscow just before 6:00 a.m. Moscow time that included a threat to the United States and NATO countries in Europe, stating that any country that tries to intervene on Ukraine’s behalf will lead to “consequences that you have never had before in your history.”
In apparent warning to the United States and NATO, Putin says in televised speech announcing war: “A couple of words for those who would be tempted to intervene. Russia will respond immediately and you will have consequences that you never have had before in your history.”
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) February 24, 2022
Videos and reports have emerged from several Ukrainian cities that appear to show explosions and air raid sirens.
Explosion in Ukraine’s Maruipol pic.twitter.com/uOv0J6ceve
— Rohan Dua (@rohanduaT02) February 24, 2022
An explosion was seen in the city of Kharkiv shortly after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. https://t.co/xbaLe5x6vw pic.twitter.com/rDMFBKGz6S
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 24, 2022
Air Raid sirens begin in Lviv, Ukraine pic.twitter.com/lIGgTfKVmU
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) February 24, 2022
BREAKING: Air raid sirens wail across Ukraine's capital pic.twitter.com/jclNZ5h7kx
— BNO News (@BNONews) February 24, 2022
Air raid sirens all over Kyiv now. pic.twitter.com/IdVGAP6BqF
— Andy Lines (@andylines) February 24, 2022
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters at a news conference in Berlin early Thursday that the EU plans to unleash a “full packet of sanctions” against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
“Today, we are waking up in a different Europe, in a different world. With the military attack on Ukraine, the Russian government is breaking the most fundamental rules of the international order, right in front of the eyes of the world,” Baerbock said.
“We will launch the full package of massive sanctions against Russia,” she added. “If we do not take a firm stance now, we will pay an even higher price.”
This week, Germany halted certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would have supplied Germany with Russian gas.
“For us as the German government, it was important to show that for a free and democratic Ukraine, we are willing to also accept consequences for our national economy,” she added. ”Peace and freedom in Europe don’t have a price tag.”