The EU needs a strategy towards the Russian Federation, including, in particular, tough sanctions against Russia and seizure of its frozen assets and their transfer to Ukraine.

Helmut Brandstätter, MEP (Austria) emphasized this idea at the 17th Annual Kyiv Security Forum “UA: UNITE AGAIN TO DEFEAT THE GLOBAL AGGRESSOR”, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation “Open Ukraine”.

“In Europe, we need unity, otherwise we have no chance to win. We need unity, but the question is whether it exists. A two-tiered strategy is needed. First, Russia must feel the pressure. More sanctions are needed, all frozen Russian assets must be transferred to Ukraine, not just windfall profits,” he stressed.

According to the MEP, stricter rules must be applied to Russians wishing to go on vacations to the EU. Helmut Brandstätter stressed that Russians must be constantly reminded of the true state of affairs, no matter how unpleasant this truth sounds.

“A strategy is needed to inform Russians about packs of lies they hear from their authorities on a daily basis. What they watch on their TV and what they hear on air should be meticulously explained to them,” he stressed.

The Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s Open Ukraine Foundation, is the main platform in Ukraine to discuss issues of war and peace, national and global security.