Europe’s foreign ministers will face intense pressure to enforce tougher sanctions against Russia today, with a UK-led group of hardline EU states insisting the downing of MH17 has changed the calculus for the bloc’s relationship with the Kremlin.
“It is time to make our power, influence and resources felt,” David Cameron, the British prime minister, told his parliament. “Russia cannot expect to continue enjoying access to European markets, European capital, European knowledge and technical expertise while she fuels conflict in one of Europe’s neighbours.”
The ministers meeting in Brussels do not have the power to approve “phase three” sanctions – a move targeting entire sectors of the Russian economy that must first be backed by heads of government. But the UK-led group, including central and eastern European countries, wants to pave the way for such a step.