Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said the European Union must ensure the release and transfer of €90 billion in loans to Ukraine agreed earlier this year. He also called for completion of a 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia and related actors.
Call for loan release and new sanctions
Kombos made the remarks on Tuesday at the EU’s foreign affairs council meeting in Luxembourg. He said the EU needs to secure the release of the €90 billion loan for Ukraine and complete the 20th sanctions package.
Cyprus role in EU Council rotating presidency
Kombos said Cyprus, as the holder of the Council of the EU’s rotating presidency, will intensify political work toward releasing the loan and completing the sanctions package. He added that Ukraine remains a compass in terms of policy orientation for the European Union.
Existing sanctions packages and LNG import ban
The EU has adopted 19 sanctions packages against Russia since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with the most recent package unveiled in October last year. The sanctions include a full ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, set to take effect on January 1 next year for long-term contracts and within six months for short-term contracts.
Zelenskiy visit and upcoming European Council address
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last visited Cyprus in January, when he said Ukraine was working to make as much progress as possible on opening negotiating clusters and on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. During that visit, he met Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and said they discussed strengthening sanctions against Russia, which he said must remain in place as long as Russia’s aggression and occupation continue. Zelenskiy is set to speak to this week’s informal European Council summit due to take place in Cyprus, but will address it by videocall rather than traveling to the island.
What do you think are the next steps the EU should take on support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia?