London to seek EU sanctions against Russian defense industry - agency
British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is planning to push the European Union to accelerate existing sanctions against Russia and ban the export of defense equipment to the country, Bloomberg has reported.
An official from Cameron's office said on condition of anonymity that the UK would call for sanctions against the entire Russian defense sector, as well as against more individuals and companies who are either materially supporting separatists in Ukraine or supporting or influencing President Vladimir Putin's government.
Cameron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed during a telephone conversation on Saturday that in the light of the investigation into the causes of the Malaysian plane crash, it was necessary to change the approach to Russia, the British government office reported.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in an interview with the BBC that the sanctions could affect the financial center of London. He said it was necessary to be ready to adopt as part of an overall sanctions package measures that will have some impact on London.
EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The EU Foreign Affairs Council is not planning to impose new sanctions on Russia, but is due to consider how an EU summit instruction of July 16 is being implemented.
In particular, the decision concerns the suspension of financing for projects in Russia through the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a senior EU diplomat said on condition of anonymity in Brussels on Friday.