EU and UK announce sanctions targeting Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov
The EU and the UK have moved to freeze foreign-held assets of Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, after Europe was accused by Ukraine’s president of failing to act hard and fast enough against Russian aggression.
The initiative is largely symbolic, as the Russian president is unlikely to have identifiable personal wealth abroad, but the move by Brussels and Downing Street followed recognition that appeals for action from Volodymyr Zelenskiy had to be heard.
The sanctions were closely coordinated. Two hours into a meeting of foreign ministers, the Latvian representative, Edgars Rinkēvičs, tweeted that the bloc had formally “adopted the 2nd sanctions package”.
Rinkēvičs added that “the asset freeze includes president of Russia and its foreign minister”. Soon afterwards, a spokesperson for Downing Street said the UK government would also act against the Russian leadership. Boris Johnson told a Nato summit that it was a necessary response to the Kremlin’s “revanchist mission”.
Asked whether Putin and his minister had assets in the UK and the EU, Josep Borrell, the bloc’s foreign affairs chief, said: “I am not in the secrets of Mr Lavrov and Mr Putin’s wealth and it is not my duty. There are people who will take care of that.”
Putin and Lavrov, who has been foreign minister since 2004, will not face travel bans as the EU and UK wish to maintain a diplomatic way through the crisis but the western allies wanted to show its resolve.
Zelenskiy had told EU leaders during a virtual appearance at their summit on Thursday night, as Russian forces encircled the Ukrainian capital, that it may be the last time they would see him. On Friday, he urged European citizens to compel their governments to do more to stop Putin in
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