Russia will pay a price, says EU's envoy to India Ugo Astuto

European Union's envoy to India Ugo Astuto said, “Sanctions announced by the bloc will have a very severe impact. It will take a toll on the Russian economy."

European Union's envoy to India Ugo Astuto has said that Russia will ‘pay a price’ over the country's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking to Zee Media, envoy Ugo said, “Sanctions announced by the bloc will have a very severe impact. It will take a toll on the Russian economy." Several European capitals are worried over the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine even as several punitive economic measures have been announced against Moscow. 

On the EU's Indo Pacific strategy, the envoy explained,"Our vision for the Indo pacific is free and open space" which "we see now in jeopardy in Europe". Earlier this week, mega Paris Indo Pacific meet took place in France, in which foreign ministers of 30 countries participated.

Here is an excerpt from the interview-

Sidhant Sibal: How major has this development been for Europe? How would you characterise it in terms of its fallout? 

Ugo Astuto: The situation is very serious. It's not serious for Europe only, but also for the whole international community. Because what we are seeing is aggression, unprovoked, unjustified, a clear violation of UN Charter, international law, of the very tenants that made us possible to live in peace and prosperity for decades. These are matters of concern for the whole of the international community and it needs to be addressed. This aggression cannot go without consequences.