EU actively discusses possible sanctions against Ukrainian officials - EESC president

The European Union is vigorously discussing the possibility of imposing sanctions on Ukrainian officials, the President of the European Parliament's European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Henri Malosse, said.

Speaking at a press conference at the national resistance headquarters in Kyiv on Thursday, Malosse said that it is easier for the United States to introduce sanctions because it is located far from Ukraine, but the situation is changing and the idea of sanctions is now being actively discussed in the EU.

It is imperative for the Ukrainian authorities to know that if they go ahead with these reprisals, Europe will adopt sanctions, Malosse said.

There is an ever-growing number of political figures within the EU who realize that the introduction of sanctions is an important lever capable of stopping violence in Ukraine, he said.

Prior to the press conference, Malosse declared his support for the Ukrainian people from the stage installed in Kyiv's central Independence Square. He delivered his address in Ukrainian.