The European Union and the United States have opened a strategic dialogue against the background of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

The two sides held the first ‘U.S.-EU High-Level Dialogue on Russia’ in Washington on Wednesday, a joint press release from both sides said on Thursday.

The U.S. was represented by Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and the EU by Enrique More, European external action service deputy secretary-general for political affairs.

“The meeting focused on U.S. and EU strategic objectives and policy coordination aimed at ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” added the statement.

Both sides condemned what they termed “the Kremlin’s unprovoked, unjustifiable and barbaric war against Ukraine.”

They also called for an immediate end to Russian military attacks on civilians.

Nuland and Mora welcomed the coordination between the U.S. and the EU in implementing unprecedented sanctions and export control measures.

They also discussed additional steps to isolate Russia further from U.S. and EU economies and the international financial system to impose severe costs on Russia for its actions, the U.S. State Department said.

The two diplomats underlined the importance of insisting that China supports an immediate end to hostilities, the establishment of humanitarian corridors and the prevention of any risks of further escalation.

They also underscored that they would continue to urge China not to circumvent or undermine sanctions against Russia.

They added that China should not provide any form of support to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the State Department statement said. 

(dpa/NAN)