EU to keep sanctioning countries assisting Russia in Ukraine
European External Action Service spokesperson Peter Stano says the EU seeks to sanction any country it accuses of assisting Russia in its war on Ukraine.
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Peter Stano is the European Commission’s lead spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy (Getty Images).
The European Union will continue to sanction countries accused of aiding Russia in the war in Ukraine, which could include Belarus and Iran, as well as some other governments, according to Peter Stano, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service, on Thursday.
"We will continue sanctioning those who are assisting, helping, and supporting in this illegal behavior by Russia, that means Belarus but also Iran and other people and entities from other countries if necessary," Stano said.
The spokesperson said that it is up to individual EU member states to determine whether to censure Belarus for allegedly aiding Russia in the war in Ukraine.
When asked whether Ukraine influenced EU decisions regarding sanctions against Belarus, Stano said, "If there are entities or individuals from Belarus being put in the sanction list in the individual packages, this all depends on the member states and the way they agree on shaping these packages."
Western countries have regularly accused Iran of sending combat drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine. The accusation has not yet been supported by any tangible proof, and both Moscow and Tehran deny it.
The West has also accused Minsk of assisting Moscow in the war, namely by enabling Russian troops and planes to enter Ukraine through Belarusian territory and stationing Russian missile launchers. Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, stated in October that Minsk had no intention of taking part in the fighting in Ukraine, especially as no such demands had been made.
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