Elmar Brok blames separatists for shelling residential area in Mariupol

11:16, 27.01.2015 1 min read

Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok has said that separatists in eastern Ukraine are guilty of shelling a residential area in Mariupol last Saturday, and stressed that sanctions against Russia could be broadened.

"The European Parliament has made it clear that without any progress in implementing the Minsk agreements; [the parliament] will not consider lifting sanctions. We see nothing so far in Russia that would convince us to lift sanctions," Brok said, during committee proceedings on Monday.

He said that European foreign ministers are united over maintaining sanctions against Russia, and may broaden them to target the financial sector, which is Russia’s Achilles heel.

Brok added that possible talks on a free trade area with Russia should be postponed as this is impossible while Russia violates international law.

It is unacceptable that Russia pretends it is not part of this conflict, he stressed.