Cyprus has continued to defy rising pressure to approve European Union sanctions on Belarus, instead urging fellow EU governments to sanction Turkey over its oil and gas drilling in the Mediterranean.

Despite friendly elbow-bumps as an extraordinary two-day EU summit got under way in Brussels, the smiles behind the face masks couldn't hide many leaders' determination to confront Cyprus in an effort to break the paralysis on Belarus sanctions. 

The 27-nation bloc insists on unanimity in decisions, and the island nation, one of the EU's smallest members, is holding out – and insisting the EU confronts Turkey over its actions, backed by its navy, in contested maritime waters.

The presidential election in Belarus on 9 August was rigged, according to the country's opposition figures and many in the West. But almost two months later, Alexander Lukashenko remains in power, blaming foreign interference for the protests against him. 

"This is just inappropriate to have a situation [in the EU] without any reaction," said Gitanas Nauseda, president of Belarus's northerly neighbor Lithuania.

CLICK: THE IRONMAN-INSPIRED PARAMEDICS WHO COULD BE COMING TO YOUR RESCUE

While Britain and Canada have proceeded with sanctions against Minsk to show support for pro-democracy demonstrations there, diplomats have said the bloc's deadlock has cost it political credibility.

A draft final statement for the summit said EU leaders condemned unacceptable violence against peaceful protesters in Belarus and did not recognize the election results. It added that "restrictive measures" should be imposed without delay.

EU officials have drawn up a list of 40 Belarus officials seen as responsible for post-election repression in the country and they will face sanctions if Cyprus drops its opposition. The leaders will discuss whether to include Lukashenko on the sanctions list, as Canada and Britain have already done.

According to a draft of the summit's conclusions, the leaders will call on Belarus "to end violence and repression, release all detainees and political prisoners, respect media freedom and civil society and start an inclusive national dialogue. It agrees that restrictive measures should be imposed and calls on the Council to adopt the decision without delay."

'Gunboat diplomacy'

Wearing a face mask with the island of Cyprus embroidered on it in gold, Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades did not stop to speak to reporters on arrival in Brussels, but won public support from Austria, which criticized fellow leaders for not supporting Nicosia.

Turkey, which is both an EU candidate country and NATO member, has slid towards authoritarianism under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but remains a strategically located partner the EU cannot ignore – and the leaders will discuss Turkey over dinner on Thursday evening.

Ankara has infuriated the EU by sending research ships with naval escorts to work in contested waters and Athens has responded with war games backed by France, raising fears of full-blown conflict. Tensions have eased slightly, with Turkey and Greece agreeing to resume long-stalled talks, but Ankara still has assets in Cypriot waters.

"The European Union finally has to show President Erdogan where our red lines are," said Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. "This means the termination of enlargement talks, and sanctions."

One diplomat, supporting the Cypriot viewpoint, was quoted by AFP as saying: "Perhaps we haven't yet shown this member state enough solidarity. We must give Cyprus more confidence in order to advance on Belarus.”

Speaking earlier in a message marking Cyprus's 60th anniversary of independence from Britain on Thursday, Anastasiades was defiant, accusing Turkey of violating its maritime shelf in a search for hydrocarbons.

"What I expect from the European Council summit is a more concrete and effective stance, to end this gunboat diplomacy," he said ahead of the EU gathering, where Cyprus wants the bloc to approve sanctions on Turkish drilling ships.

Erdogan meanwhile sent a letter to all EU leaders except Greece and Cyprus, lobbying for the bloc to treat Ankara fairly and blaming Athens and Nicosia for the tensions in the contested waters of the Mediterranean.

"I would like to emphasise once again that we are ready for dialogue with Greece without any preconditions," wrote Erdogan, urging Brussels to "remain impartial" to help resolve a "new test" in bilateral relations.

The draft summit statement had no agreed line on Turkey, as Germany does not want to disrupt separate talks between Ankara and Athens – also over oil and gas drilling – by imposing EU sanctions.

Pulled in different directions

The economically powerful EU sees itself as a beacon of democracy and human rights, eager to influence international events through "soft power." But its insistence on unanimity in making decisions on foreign policy and its strained relationship with Turkey have raised questions about the EU's ability to exert influence.

Weakened in foreign policy by Britain's exit last January, the EU is being pulled in different directions by France's tough stance on Turkey and Germany's push for dialogue. EU diplomats say a solution could involve a promise to Cyprus of tough sanctions on Turkey in the future.

"The idea is to threaten Turkey with retaliatory measures if it continues with drilling and other provocations in Cypriot and Greek waters," a senior EU diplomat said. "This is meant to offer guarantees to Cyprus and convince Nicosia to lift its veto on Belarus sanctions." 

In his summit invitation, European Council President Charles Michel warned that "all options remain on the table" if Ankara does not engage constructively in talks. This could include tough economic sanctions against Turkey, but officials stress that while the EU stands squarely with Greece and Cyprus, the focus for now is on trying to find a diplomatic solution.

"We've seen positive developments on Ankara's behalf towards Greece but not Cyprus," an EU official said, citing the start of a German-led mediation effort.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed she was "committed to finding a peaceful solution to the tensions," while French President Emmanuel Macron said EU solidarity with Cyprus was "non-negotiable." But neither of the EU's two most powerful leaders offered details of a way out of the impasse.

Hungary, Budgets and Brexit

The stand-off over Turkey and the impasse over Belarus are not the only problems on the agenda. The assembled leaders must also address an internal argument about tying access to EU funds to a member state's support for the rule of law – an idea fiercely opposed by Hungary.

There will also be bargaining over budgets: European Parliament speaker David Sassoli will warn leaders that MEPs oppose cuts to key EU programs in the $875 billion coronavirus stimulus plan and therefore want $117 billion more. The so-called "frugal countries" – the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Finland – oppose restoring the budget cuts and insist on the importance of the rule of law.

One further topic for discussion is Brexit: on Friday the leaders will be updated on trade deal negotiations with Britain. Brussels has launched legal infringement proceedings against London's efforts to overwrite the Brexit divorce deal through domestic law and Ireland's premier Micheal Martin will take the floor to bring up his concerns.

The summit program was updated at the last minute with the news that Macron will return to Paris after the first day, and on Friday be represented by Merkel. The gathering should not be hugely affected by the French president’s absence – but the British departure, the lingering divisions over Turkey, the questions over Belarus and the budget considerations will give the remaining leaders plenty to discuss.