The crisis in Ukraine led to greater unity in the EU and strengthened the transatlantic link
22 March 2015 News
EU sanctions against Russia are the sole alternative to a harder scenario. We enforce them not because we want to, but because we have to. The decision to annex Crimea and destabilize Eastern Ukraine was made in Moscow. We must protect the values we believe in because otherwise the price we will have to pay later will be much higher than the price we pay now, said Minister Daniel Mitov at the Young Professionals Summit of the Brussels Forum, which takes place on 20-22 March at the Belgian capital. The Bulgarian Foreign Minister participated in a discussion on "Sanctions and Security: Transatlantic Strategies or Discord?".
Minister Mitov noted that the situation in Ukraine is not the only problem and recalled the conflict in the Transnistrian region and Georgia. We neglected Russia's conduct for a long time thinking that our good will, combined with a desire for political and economic cooperation will solve these problems, he said.
Unfortunately, this did not happen so that a new approach is necessary. We must go back to the roots of our values - values that connected the whole civilized democratic world, including Russia, after 1989. Now is the time in which we have to choose between economy and values,Daniel Mitov said.The crisis in Ukraine might not have happened if Europe had defended its values earlier.
The sanctions are painful also for the EU but the Union will cope with them. They are not just an economic tool, but a sign of political isolation in which a country finds itself.At the sametime we must be prepared for another scenario and have the tools to attack those who make the political decisions, not ordinary Russians who do not deserve it.
Lifting of the sanctions is related to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. Sanctions must be applied, there must be an end to the deaths of people so that things move on to a peaceful and diplomatic solution of the problems, said Minister Mitov.
International relations are built on trust and when it is broken, its restoration is very difficult and takes much time, Bulgarian Foreign Minister said in conclusion. Russia did notexpect that the EU will remain united in its response to Russia’s aggressive actions. It turned out that the crisis in Ukraine has led to greater unity in the EU and to strengthening of the transatlantic link, he added.