ABC News, Brussels :
European Union leaders pledged early Friday to keep all options open to respond to any atrocities committed by President Bashar Assad’s regime and his Russian backers in Syria but stopped short of threatening Moscow with sanctions.
Despite strong rhetoric against Russia’s military actions in Syria, notably in aiding regime attacks on the besieged city of Aleppo, the leaders failed to agree on a tough joint statement sending a clear message to Moscow that it could face punitive measures. As they debated ways to take a unified approach toward President Vladimir Putin, Russian warships steamed toward the English Channel on their way to the Mediterranean, bound for the waters off Syria, watched by NATO navies. “Russia’s strategy is to weaken the EU,” said European Council President Donald Tusk, after chairing the first day
of a two-day summit in Brussels.
Tusk said the EU leaders strongly condemned attacks on civilians by the Syrian regime and its backers, led by Russia, called for a lasting ceasefire declared and stands ready to consider “all available options if these atrocities continue.”
European Union leaders pledged early Friday to keep all options open to respond to any atrocities committed by President Bashar Assad’s regime and his Russian backers in Syria but stopped short of threatening Moscow with sanctions.
Despite strong rhetoric against Russia’s military actions in Syria, notably in aiding regime attacks on the besieged city of Aleppo, the leaders failed to agree on a tough joint statement sending a clear message to Moscow that it could face punitive measures. As they debated ways to take a unified approach toward President Vladimir Putin, Russian warships steamed toward the English Channel on their way to the Mediterranean, bound for the waters off Syria, watched by NATO navies. “Russia’s strategy is to weaken the EU,” said European Council President Donald Tusk, after chairing the first day
of a two-day summit in Brussels.
Tusk said the EU leaders strongly condemned attacks on civilians by the Syrian regime and its backers, led by Russia, called for a lasting ceasefire declared and stands ready to consider “all available options if these atrocities continue.”
