European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the bloc will continue to impose new sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, despite admitting that the measures can't end the war.
Speaking at a presser after a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels, the European Union’s top diplomat reiterated the bloc's approach to Russia, vowing more "restrictive measures against the Russian economy".
"We never expected the sanctions were going to finish the war, but certainly, they are weakening the capacity of the Russian army to renew its material," he said.
Borrell, however, stressed that the EU would continue its support for Ukraine.
"We will continue isolating Russia internationally. We will continue imposing restrictive measures against Russian economy. We stand ready to continue reinforcing restrictive measures and target third countries involvement," Borrell said.
‘European weapons worth billions in Ukrainians’ hands’
He also announced that the bloc and its member states have provided "at least eight billion euros ($8.27 billion)" in military equipment to Ukraine, adding that the sum amounts to "about 45%" of what the United States has supplied to Kiev.
Russia launched the war on Ukraine in late February, following Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the 2014 Minsk agreements and Moscow’s recognition of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Since then, the US and its European allies have imposed unprecedented waves of economic sanctions against Moscow while supplying large consignments of heavy weaponry to Kiev. Moscow has been critical of the weapons supplies to Kiev, warning that they will prolong the war.