| answer text |
<p>As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend
the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) told the House on 8 April, we are gravely
concerned about the situation in Crimea and in the east of Ukraine. We have consistently
condemned Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea including in public statements, international
fora, and in bilateral contacts with the Russian Federation.</p><p>The UK has played
a key role in ensuring a tough and united response from the international community.
We have reviewed all bilateral engagement with Russia and have frozen military cooperation,
refused export licence requests which may be used by the Russian military, and postponed
a number of planned Ministerial Summits. Along with other G7 members, the UK has withdrawn
participation in the planned G8 Summit in Sochi in June, and will instead take part
in a G7 meeting in Brussels.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary has taken part in a number
of discussions on sanctions at the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), in which the
European Commission has also been involved. On 14 April, the FAC agreed to expand
the second tier of sanctions and to add further names to the list of individuals subject
to those sanctions. The FAC agreed on the urgency of completing work on a possible
third tier of more far reaching sanctions, which might be implemented in the absence
of meaningful diplomatic engagement by Russia or further provocation against Ukraine.
The European Commission was tasked to identify such economic measures.</p><p>As the
Foreign Secretary has made clear to the Russian Foreign Minister, the EU remains prepared
to impose additional sanctions should that become necessary. Russia should be clear
that any deliberate escalation of this crisis may bring serious political and economic
consequences.</p>
|
|
