Prime minister feared German nerves about confronting Russia would weaken EU resolve – but this proved groundless
Read the latest on our Ukraine liveblog
European leaders went much further than expected in warning Russia that it will face "severe and far reaching consequences" if it fails to change course on Ukraine, David Cameron said at the end of Thursday's emergency EU summit in Brussels.
The prime minister, who had feared German nerves about confronting Vladimir Putin would weaken the EU's resolve, returned home satisfied that Europe and the US are sending powerful signals to Moscow.
Speaking at the conclusion of the summit, Cameron said: "We know from our history that turning a blind eye when nations are trampled over and their independence trashed stores up far greater problems in the long run. So we must stand up to aggression, uphold international law and support people who want a free, European future."
Cameron travelled to Brussels stranded, in a metaphorical sense, halfway across Tony Blair's famous transatlantic bridge between Europe and the US.
The prime minister was not prepared to adopt the level of sanctions announced by the US, which is to impose visa bans on Russian officials. But he felt that Germany, nervous about its energy dependence on Russia, and France, nervous about its defence contracts with Moscow, would ensure that the summit would go little further than suspending talks on establishing a more liberal visa regime for Russians.
EU leaders did, in the end, go much further than Cameron had anticipated. An association agreement with Ukraine – the issue which prompted the crisis after Viktor Yanukovych turned his back on the EU to sign up to a cheap credit deal with Russia last year – was brought forward.
The leaders also agreed that if Russia fails to embark on talks with Ukraine – dubbed phase two – it could face travel bans and asset freezes. The EU would ratchet up its response even further, with curbs on energy, trade and financial relations, if Russian forces move beyond the Crimean peninsula to eastern Ukraine.
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister whose country borders Ukraine, was the key figure in strengthening the resolve of EU leaders. But Cameron fell in behind Tusk as he told the summit that all EU countries would have to pay an economic price if action was toughened as he moved to place some distance from the photographed secret government document which said that nothing should be done to harm the City of London.
Cameron said: "The point I made in the council meeting is 'Look of course there are consequences for Britain if you look at financial services, there are consequences for France if you look at defence, there are consequences for some European countries if you look at energy'."
Tapping his pen on the podium, the prime minister added: "The fact is if we are going to stand for something, if we are going to stand up [to] aggression we have to consider all and every one of those areas.
"Europe has taken some important steps forward. That is progress and good progress – not as much as some people would want. But from where we were yesterday, from what people thought this meeting would achieve, I think that is quite further advanced."
The prime minister's experience in Brussels highlighted the evolving nature of Britain's relationship with both the US and the EU. Tony Blair tried to depict Britain as a bridge connecting the US and EU, prompting the former British ambassador to Washington Sir Christopher Meyer to warn that the trouble with precarious bridges is they can collapse.
As Barack Obama retreated from Europe, Cameron found himself on the European side of the bridge – an uncomfortable place for a eurosceptic – as he joined France in the Libyan operation. But on Ukraine he started to tiptoe towards the US as Britain racheted up its response to Russia. It turned out, however, that the swing voice in Brussels came not from Britain but from Poland. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.
Read the latest on our Ukraine liveblog
European leaders went much further than expected in warning Russia that it will face "severe and far reaching consequences" if it fails to change course on Ukraine, David Cameron said at the end of Thursday's emergency EU summit in Brussels.
The prime minister, who had feared German nerves about confronting Vladimir Putin would weaken the EU's resolve, returned home satisfied that Europe and the US are sending powerful signals to Moscow.
Speaking at the conclusion of the summit, Cameron said: "We know from our history that turning a blind eye when nations are trampled over and their independence trashed stores up far greater problems in the long run. So we must stand up to aggression, uphold international law and support people who want a free, European future."
Cameron travelled to Brussels stranded, in a metaphorical sense, halfway across Tony Blair's famous transatlantic bridge between Europe and the US.
The prime minister was not prepared to adopt the level of sanctions announced by the US, which is to impose visa bans on Russian officials. But he felt that Germany, nervous about its energy dependence on Russia, and France, nervous about its defence contracts with Moscow, would ensure that the summit would go little further than suspending talks on establishing a more liberal visa regime for Russians.
EU leaders did, in the end, go much further than Cameron had anticipated. An association agreement with Ukraine – the issue which prompted the crisis after Viktor Yanukovych turned his back on the EU to sign up to a cheap credit deal with Russia last year – was brought forward.
The leaders also agreed that if Russia fails to embark on talks with Ukraine – dubbed phase two – it could face travel bans and asset freezes. The EU would ratchet up its response even further, with curbs on energy, trade and financial relations, if Russian forces move beyond the Crimean peninsula to eastern Ukraine.
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister whose country borders Ukraine, was the key figure in strengthening the resolve of EU leaders. But Cameron fell in behind Tusk as he told the summit that all EU countries would have to pay an economic price if action was toughened as he moved to place some distance from the photographed secret government document which said that nothing should be done to harm the City of London.
Cameron said: "The point I made in the council meeting is 'Look of course there are consequences for Britain if you look at financial services, there are consequences for France if you look at defence, there are consequences for some European countries if you look at energy'."
Tapping his pen on the podium, the prime minister added: "The fact is if we are going to stand for something, if we are going to stand up [to] aggression we have to consider all and every one of those areas.
"Europe has taken some important steps forward. That is progress and good progress – not as much as some people would want. But from where we were yesterday, from what people thought this meeting would achieve, I think that is quite further advanced."
The prime minister's experience in Brussels highlighted the evolving nature of Britain's relationship with both the US and the EU. Tony Blair tried to depict Britain as a bridge connecting the US and EU, prompting the former British ambassador to Washington Sir Christopher Meyer to warn that the trouble with precarious bridges is they can collapse.
As Barack Obama retreated from Europe, Cameron found himself on the European side of the bridge – an uncomfortable place for a eurosceptic – as he joined France in the Libyan operation. But on Ukraine he started to tiptoe towards the US as Britain racheted up its response to Russia. It turned out, however, that the swing voice in Brussels came not from Britain but from Poland. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.