PM WARNS PUTIN OVER EU SANCTIONS
European Union sanctions against Russia will be stepped up if there is not a "radical" change in the behaviour of the regime of Vladimir Putin over the crisis in Ukraine and the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, David Cameron has warned.
Foreign ministers from EU states meet in Brussels tomorrow to discuss accelerating sanctions against named individuals in the Putin regime, and Mr Cameron has made clear that he also wants discussions on the imposition of wider sectoral measures to target the Russian economy.
Following telephone talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francois Hollande over the weekend, Mr Cameron suggested that trade in advanced industrial goods which have a military use could be among the first areas to be subjected to wider sanctions.
Mr Putin has issued a defiant warning that the MH17 crash must not be used for "political" advantage, insisting that "all people" in Ukraine were responsible to the families of the 298 passengers and crew who died last week.
But, in what was described by Downing Street as a "frank" conversation with the Russian president last night, the Prime Minister told Mr Putin his support for separatist insurgents in eastern Ukraine had "contributed to an appalling tragedy" and the delay in experts being able to investigate the crash site was "indefensible".
Speaking during a visit to Wales ahead of a statement on the tragedy to the House of Commons, Mr Cameron said: "It is an absolutely horrific incident that's taken place. What I said to Vladimir Putin is that the world today is watching Russia, the world is watching Putin and everybody wants to know that he will do everything in his power to make these separatists open up that site so there can be a proper investigation.
"The world also wants to see a real change in the stance Russia has taken over the crisis in Ukraine. We need no more weapons crossing the border, no more troops crossing the border, no more support for the separatists, respect for Ukrainian territorial integrity. That is what is required and that is what must be pushed for.
"In terms of sanctions, I'm very clear, having spoken to Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande, that the EU will be ready for further steps in terms of other areas of, particularly, some forms of advanced industrial goods which might have dual uses for defence purposes as well. We will be looking at those things, and Russia needs to know that action will follow if there isn't a radical change in the way they behave."
