President: EU sanctions on Russia should not have bigger repercussions on member states

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has reiterated that EU sanctions on Russia should not have bigger repercussions on EU member states than on Russia itself. The President took part in a videoconference on Monday, convened by European Council Head Charles Michel with the participation of Swedish premier Magdalena Andersson, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Croatian premier Andrej Plenković.

The videoconference took place ahead of the extraordinary EUCO to take place in Brussels 30-31 May.

A written statement by Government Spokesperson Marios Pelekanos says that Michel and the EU heads of states and governments discussed the situation in Ukraine and the food security. The President noted that diplomatic efforts should continue for a ceasefire and for conditions of peace and stability to return in Ukraine and the region.

Pelekanos said that as regards the sanctions on Russia and although this issue will not be debated during the upcoming EUCO, the President noted the need for the EU leaders to stay united in their stance and to keep supporting measures that will lead to the end of the war. He said that sanctions should be well thought out and should lead to pressure on Russia and not have greater fiscal consequences on the member states.

As regards energy sustainability and autonomy in the light of the Commission’s plan REPowerEU the President briefed participants in the videoconference on the solutions Cyprus could provide to this end. On the agenda of the videoconference was also EU’s defence industry competitiveness and cooperation between member states in the armaments sector.

President Anastasiades noted that Cyprus supports all efforts and steps that would lead to EU’s strategic autonomy, the Government Spokesperson notes.

On food crisis and security due to Ukrainian war, the President noted that efforts should be made to support the agriculture sector and expressed his worries on the problems that might arise in Africa and countries of the Middle East.