.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj asked the EU to punish Russia at the Wednesday summit, which was also attended by several other countries of the former Soviet Union.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine meant a meeting of the so-called Eastern Partnership of the EU.
Apart from Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova took part in the meeting in Brussels. The fight against corruption and democratic reforms were on the agenda, but most attention was paid to the situation around Ukraine.
(AP Photo / Olivier Matthys)
Fear of invasion
The EU is threatening new sanctions against Russia if Russian forces invade Ukraine. But the Ukrainian president believes that sanctions must be introduced now to deter Russia.
"Honestly, no one is particularly interested in the sanctions policy afterwards," Zelenskyj said, meeting the press.
According to NATO sources, Russia has deployed more than 75 troops near the border with Ukraine. This caused great concern both in Ukraine and in Western countries.
Russia denies any plans to invade Ukraine. But the Russian government has set a number of conditions to alleviate the situation.
Russian requirements
On the same day that EU and former Soviet Union leaders met in Brussels, Russian demands were handed over to US Deputy Secretary of State Karen Donfried in Moscow.
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin demanded a written guarantee that Ukraine would not join NATO.
Ukraine turns to the EU
How the EU deals with the situation in Ukraine will be discussed at the EU summit on Thursday. Belarus also previously participated in the EU's Eastern Partnership. However, it withdrew this summer after widespread criticism from the EU regarding last year's elections in Belarus.
Source: NTB
(Johanna Geron, Pool Photo via AP)
Read our next article: The Norwegian authorities are reacting and turning to Russia
