BRUSSELS – The European Union must impose new sanctions on Russian authorities for the arrest of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and plans to discuss measures to challenge Beijing for its repression in Hong Kong, signaling a change in the bloc’s position on the two countries in relation to the US .
A handful of Russian officials are expected to be hit with asset freezes and travel bans due to the Navalny case, diplomats said. The sanctions, due to be finalized in March, will be the first use of the new EU human rights sanctions framework, similar to the US Magnitsky Act.
EU Foreign Ministers and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held two hours of talks on Monday, discussing the Biden government’s goal of working closely with European allies on challenges, including the rise of the China and the nuclear deal with Iran.
EU officials, while emphasizing their independence in foreign policy, have shown signs of alignment with the US on sensitive issues since President Biden took office. A confidential EU document on Hong Kong, released last week and seen by The Wall Street Journal, advocates greater cooperation with the United States and other allies to pressure China.
Support for the imposition of sanctions on Russia grew rapidly after a tense trip to Moscow by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Borrell said on the Monday before the meeting that “it is clear that Russia is on a course of confrontation with the European Union”.