EU hesitates about anti-Russian sanctions

Western media have described the final communiqué on the prospects of the anti-Russian sanctions as weak. The document states that the European Commission will prepare necessary measures. EU Chief Diplomat Federica Mogherini said that the measures will be clarified on February 12. No new sanctions were passed, the old ones affecting individuals were extended, sector-targeted sanctions were left unchanged.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius called for harsher sanctions against the Russian economy. His Greek colleague Nikoss Kotzias offered to mediate in Russian-EU talks.

Sergey Markov, a member of the Public Chamber, pointed out Greece as the dissident in the European Union. New Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has admitted several times that Ukraine was ruled by ultra-nationalists and neo-fascists, according to Markov. The expert said that Poland was putting pressure on Greece, encouraging it to comply with the sanctions in exchange for restructuring and writing off of debts. Hungary, Finland, Italy, Spain and Austria allude that they would most likely support Greece’s approach. The expert predicts that any new sanctions would most likely be imposed against 5-6 field commanders fighting in Donbas, or against Donetsk leader Alexander Zakharchenko. 

Andrey Suzdaltsev, deputy dean of the World Economy and International Relations Faculty at the HSE NRU, emphasized that the position of Greece was a signal of a conflict within the EU. He predicts that grievances over economic sanctions would only grow. The expert said that the special operation in January was provoked by an attack on a bus in Volnovakh, harshening of the EU’s position by the attacks in the eastern part of Mariupol. Suzdaltsev noted that Eastern and Central Europe was unhappy with the lack of access to the Russian market because no compensations were given for participation in anti-Russian sanctions.

Western media have called the final communiqué on prospects of the anti-Russian sanctions weak. The document states that the European Commission will prepare necessary measures. EU Chief Diplomat Federica Mogherini said that the measures will be clarified on February 12. No new sanctions were passed, the old ones affecting individuals were extended, sector-targeting sanctions were left unchanged.Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius called for harsher sanctions against the Russian economy. His Greek colleague Nikoss Kotzias offered to mediate in Russian-EU talks.Sergey Markov, a member of the Public Chamber, pointed out Greece as the dissident in the European Union. New Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has admitted several times that Ukraine was ruled by ultra-nationalists and neo-fascists, according to Markov. The expert said that Poland was pressing on Greece, encouraging it to comply with the sanctions in exchange for restructuring and writing off of debts. Hungary, Finland, Italy, Spain and Austria allude that they would most likely support Greece’s approach. The expert predicts that any new sanctions would most likely be imposed against 5-6 field commanders fighting in Donbas, or against Donetsk leader Alexander Zakharchenko.Andrey Suzdaltsev, deputy dean of the World Economy and International Relations Faculty at the HSE NRU, emphasized that the position of Greece was a signal of a conflict within the EU. He predicts that grievances over economic sanctions would only grow. The expert said that the special operation in January was provoked by an attack on a bus in Volnovakh, harshening of the EU’s position by the attacks in the eastern part of Mariupol.Suzdaltsev noted that Eastern and Central Europe was unhappy with the lack of access to the Russian market because no compensations were given for participation in anti-Russian sancti