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Added on the 27/02/2022 17:55:40 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says the EU will ban the Russian-owned Russia Today and Sputnik as well as their subsidiaries in the Union. SOUNDBITE
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says Brussels will propose to freeze the assets of the Russian central bank, in a major escalation of sanctions against Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine. Speaking after a videoconference with the leaders of the United States, Germany, France, Italy and Canada, she says the Western allies "will paralyse the assets of Russia's central bank." SOUNDBITE
"We commit to ensuring that a certain number of Russian banks are removed from SWIFT," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces at a press conference. "This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system." SOUNDBITE
EU lawmakers vote on whether to hand European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen a second five-year term. 719 MEPs are gathering for the secret ballot in the European Parliament's first sitting in Strasbourg, France, since the June elections. IMAGES
The current President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addresses the European Parliament. The MEPs then vote on whether or not to grant her a second term. SOUNDBITE