Threats by Vladimir Putin: emergency meeting of European ministers on Wednesday evening in New York following the unacceptable threat of the Russian president.

Eva Deschamps / September 22, 2022

European Union foreign ministers will hold an informal emergency meeting Wednesday evening in New York on Ukraine after Vladimir Putin announced the mobilization of thousands of reservists, announced the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.

The Russian president's threat to use nuclear weapons "is an unacceptable threat," Borrell said at a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, denouncing a "new escalation" by Russia. "The international community must react."

"I can anticipate that (the ministers) will discuss how to continue our military support to Ukraine, how to continue to put pressure on Russia. The issue of sanctions will definitely be on the table," he added, noting that he would begin to make proposals on that.

In an interview on CNN on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Vladimir Putin's statements "(called) for new sanctions on our part.

The EU has already adopted six packages of economic sanctions against Russia, but tensions have arisen among member states, and Hungary has said it opposes new measures. Unanimity is required for European sanctions.