In the White House, von der Leyen Biden got support in the Belarus crisis
Source: AFP / Jim Watson
Ursula von der Leyen announced in Washington that the European Union plans to significantly expand its sanctions against Belarus as early as next week. It can also count on the help of the United States – they want to impose their own sanctions in December.
NSThere was no joint press conference after this summit. But there is a picture that Ursula von der Leyen – President of the European Commission – says – tweet later. The photo shows her speaking to US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House, surrounded by men and women wearing face masks.
Biden and von der Leyen met each other recently, at the G-20 meeting in Rome, but it still seemed there was a need to talk, so I flew to Washington. After that, she told reporters what the meeting was about: Belarus.
Americans and Europeans want to work together to counter the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, who — with the support of Vladimir Putin — effectively rules his country as the sole ruler. Von der Leyen has announced that the European Union will significantly expand its sanctions against Belarus as soon as next week.
According to EU diplomats, these sanctions will be directed against 30 institutions and individuals, including the Belarusian foreign minister and Belarusian airline Belavia. Von der Leyen also said that America will impose its own sanctions on Belarus in early December. “This is a hybrid attack, not an immigration crisis.” Both the European Union and the United States of America threaten all airlines involved in transporting refugees – according to the results of the European Union, also include “Turkish Airlines” and “Fly Dubai” – with severe penalties.
‘We know the pattern’
The European Union and NATO say Alexander Lukashenko is using migrants as weapons by transporting them to Minsk from the Middle East and placing them on the border with Poland and the Baltic states. “This is an attempt by an authoritarian regime to destabilize its democratic neighbors,” von der Leyen told reporters.
This attempt will not work. “We know the pattern. We know attempts to influence our democratic elections, we see cyber attacks, we see disinformation campaigns, and now we see this hybrid attack in which refugees are being exploited at the external borders of the European Union. We have to defend our democracies against these kinds of cynical geopolitical power games. “.
Von der Leyen and Biden also spoke about Ukraine. “We both support the complete territorial integrity of Ukraine,” said the European Commission president. We also support Ukraine’s attempt to modernize and transform its economy.”
I also spoke to Biden about the situation in Ireland. It is important that everyone adhere to the agreements made. “We as the European Union are willing to show the greatest flexibility, but it is important to adhere to and work with the protocols,” von der Leyen said. Von der Leyen was alluding to the problems Brexit was causing for the people of Northern Ireland.
Last but not least, the Washington meeting was on Covid. “Next year we want to vaccinate 70 percent of the world’s population, so there is still a lot to do,” von der Leyen said.