“This 12th package will include … new export bans, among them … diamonds. There would also be actions to tighten the oil price cap, in order to decrease the revenue that Russia is getting from selling its oil - not to us but to others - [and] fighting against circumvention.”
“Putin is saying he is not bluffing. Well, he cannot afford bluffing, and it has to be clear that the people supporting Ukraine and the European Union and the Member States, and the United States and NATO are not bluffing either. Any nuclear attack against Ukraine will create an answer, not a nuclear answer but such a powerful answer from the military side that the Russian Army will be annihilated.”
“Any deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure is utterly unacceptable and will be met with a robust and united response. All available information indicates those leaks are the result of a deliberate act.”
“I don't think that to cut the relationship with the Russian civilian population will help and I don't think that this idea will have the required unanimity. I think that we have to review the way that some Russians get a visa, certainly the oligarchs not. We have to be more selective. But I am not in favour of stopping delivering visas to all Russians.”
“We have a deal. Under the EU-facilitated Dialogue, Serbia agreed to abolish entry/exit documents for Kosovo ID holders and Kosovo agreed to not introduce them for Serbian ID holders. Kosovo Serbs, as well as all other citizens, will be able to travel freely between Kosovo & Serbia using their ID cards. The EU just received guarantees from PM [Albin] Kurti to this end.”
“Banning 90% of Russian oil imports gives a big blow to Putin's war chest. Withdrawal of Patriarch Kyrill shows limits of foreign policy based on unanimity. Religious leaders should not be shielded from responsibility for supporting Putin's war.”
“EU sanctions would have a cost for Europe but we have to be ready to pay the price, or we will have to pay a much higher price in the future. The EU will provide intelligence to Ukraine about Russian troop movements and EU countries are determined to increase their military support to Kyiv.”
“The UN Security Council vote with important abstention of China, India and UAE and only Russia vetoing, shows international community's rejection that might makes right and demonstrates Russia's disregard for its responsibilities and obligations as permanent member. I call on the entire international community to further join forces and help end Russia's invasion of Ukraine by adopting the related resolution at UNGA.”
“The nationalist and separatist rhetoric is increasing in Bosnia and Herzegovina and jeopardising the stability and even the integrity of the country. [The] ministers will have to take a decision on how to stop these dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to avoid that the country can fall apart in pieces. This is a critical situation.”
“Spoke to Albin Kurti and Aleksandar Vucic yesterday regarding the collection of votes in Kosovo for Sunday's constitutional referendum in Serbia. Collection of votes in the past has taken place through facilitation of the OSCE. People should be able to exercise their right to vote.”
“The current situation is a threat to the stability and security of Ukraine and the whole region. It cannot be discussed without all the relevant actors around the table. The EU cannot be a neutral spectator in these negotiations if Russia really wants to discuss Europe's security architecture.”
“We share with Qatar the understanding that some operational engagement with the interim government is necessary, but without granting them any legitimacy. This engagement has to be conditional on progress made by the Taliban along the five benchmarks that we defined back in September.”
“We will give the green light to extending the legal framework of our sanctions against Belarus so that it can be applied to everyone who participates in smuggling migrants to this country. Executives at airlines and travel agencies could be hit with travel bans and asset freezes in the EU. About 30 Belarusian government officials thought to be involved in the crisis could also be targeted with sanctions.”
“We call on the security forces to immediately release those they have unlawfully detained. The actions of the military represent a betrayal of the revolution, the transition, and the legitimate requests of the Sudanese people for peace, justice and economic development.”
“I know that the Iranians want to have some kind of previous talks with me as coordinator and with some members of the board of the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. I cannot tell you a precise date. I am ready to receive them, if needed. Time is pressing. The new government in Tehran had had enough time to study the file and instruct its negotiating team.”