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Added on the 16/03/2020 17:04:08 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says the EU will impose a gradual Russian oil ban, as Brussels unveils new sanctions to punish Russia for invading Ukraine. "We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion," says von der Leyen in speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. SOUNDBITE
European Union chief Charles Michel reiterates support for Ukraine's closer integration with the bloc during a summit in the capital hosted by President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Ukraine is the EU, the EU is Ukraine," Michel says at a press conference with Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. SOUNDBITE
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says that the bloc must act to address "distortions" created by Washington's $430-billion plan to spur climate-friendly technologies in the United States. The European Union must "take action to rebalance the playing field where the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) or other measures create distortions", von der Leyen says in a speech at the College of Europe in the Belgian city of Bruges. SOUNDBITE
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen floats the idea of a "specialised court" to put Russia's top officials on trial for the war in Ukraine. "While continuing to support the International Criminal Court, we are proposing to set up a specialised court backed by the United Nations to investigate and prosecute Russia's crime of aggression," she says in a video statement. SOUNDBITE
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says she backs treaty changes for the bloc including streamlined decision making by supermajority as opposed to unanimous voting, arguing that unanimous voting "no longer makes sense if we want to be able to move faster". SOUNDBITE
Supporters of Zambian President Lungu hold a rally in Lusaka during a tense presidential race, which has been marked by clashes between rival supporters. The presidential election will take place on Thursday. IMAGES.