Merkel: G-8 doesn't exist anymore
20.03.2014,
19:46
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Union will impose more sanctions on Russia following its decision to annex Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and will suspend all G-8 meetings until the political situation changes, Prime reports.
YEREVAN, March 20. / ARKA /. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Union will impose more sanctions on Russia following its decision to annex Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and will suspend all G-8 meetings until the political situation changes, Prime reports.
Merkel told the country's Parliament Thursday ahead of an EU summit in Brussels that the bloc would expand a freeze of bank accounts and travel bans of people that have been linked to the crisis.
Earlier this week, the EU and the United States slapped sanctions on certain individuals that were involved in what they say was the unlawful referendum in Crimea over joining Russia.
"As long as there is no political environment for such an important political format as the G-8, like at the moment, the G-8 doesn't exist anymore, neither the summit nor the format as such," Merkel said.
Merkel said she still seeks dialogue with Moscow, but she said the 28-country EU is prepared to introduce stronger economic sanctions against Russia "at any time" if there is an escalation in the conflict. She didn't say what those sanctions might include. -0-
