OREANDA-NEWS  The European Union will expand sanctions pressure on Russia, as well as on those who provide military assistance to the Russian Federation, such as Belarus and Iran. This was stated on Tuesday by the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in NATO after the signing of the declaration on EU-NATO cooperation.

"We will continue the sanctions pressure on the Kremlin for as long as necessary. We will also expand sanctions against those who provide military support to Russia, such as Belarus and Iran," she said.

The head of the European Commission called for the provision of any weapons Ukraine needs. "I think Ukraine should get all the weapons it needs, including advanced air defense systems," she said. The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, also agreed with von der Leyen. "I support this position. The European Council has called many times to increase aid to Ukraine," he added.

The European Union and NATO signed a new declaration on cooperation between the two organizations on Tuesday, taking it "to a new level" against the background of the conflict in Ukraine.