From our News Desk:
EU Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner-designate Johannes Hahn says Serbia needs to carefully consider its refusal to support EU sanctions against Russia if Belgrade hopes to join the European Union.
Hahn told the European Parliament on Tuesday that if Belgrade "is moving towards accession, the signal" on sanctions against Russia "will have to be the right one."
Russia announced a criminal case against Ukraine's political and military leadership on September 29, for what it called "genocide" against Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine. Spokesman Vladimir Markin said orders had been given to annihilate the Russian-speaking population. Ukraine and Western countries accuse Russia of stoking separatism in eastern Ukraine and deploying troops and equipment there. (Video by Reuters)
From RFE/RL's correspondent in Brussels, Rikard Jozwiak:
EU Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner-designate Johannes Hahn has said he would do everything in his power to contribute to a solution to the Ukraine crisis.
Speaking at a hearing in the European Parliament on September 30, Hahn said Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence should be respected.
Asked whether he had a development plan for the country, the commissioner-designate said it was not always about money.
He said the EU will assist with issues such as decentralization of the government, stabilization of civil society, and the reconstruction of eastern Ukraine.
Speaking about the Deep and Comprehensive Free-Trade Agreement, implementation of which was postponed to January 2016, he assured that the EU will maintain the agreement as it has been agreed to by Kyiv and Brussels.
Hahn also said the EU should help Ukraine when it comes to its energy situation but added that the country's energy sector must become more transparent.
Just in from RFE/RL's News Desk:
The European Union is calling for a better implementation of a cease-fire agreement between Kyiv and pro-Russian separatists.
EU ambassadors met in Brussels on September 30 to assess the situation in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement, the EU said there has been "encouraging developments" under the peace deal agreed between the Kyiv government and the rebels on September 5.
However, it added that "relevant parts of the same protocol will need to be properly implemented."
The statement said the EU will look at easing or lifting sanctions on Russia "if the situation on the ground so warrants."
Five months of fighting in eastern Ukraine has left at least 3,000 people dead and caused hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
Kyiv and Western countries accused Russia of supporting the rebels and sending troops and hardware, charges that Moscow denies.