Germany and France to keep anti-Russian sanctions intact

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said today that Germany and France were planning to keep the anti-Russian sanctions in force. Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, noted in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza that US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit demonstrated America's understanding the pressure on Russia and the lack of communication with it were inefficient, so more pacificatory statements will be tried.

Lukyanov reminded that NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow's claims that Russia would face further isolation and sanctions for failing to comply with the Minsk Agreements contradicted Tusk's position.

Vasily Yakimkin, a docent of the RANEPA Chair of Stock Markets and Financial Engineering, admitted that the EU had a wide range of sanctions tools. He noted that Kerry had recommended that South Korea join the sanctions and close access to its technologies. Western banks were closed for Russia, so new credit lines have been opening in China and South Korea. Victoria Nuland, according to Yakimkin, visited Moscow to warn about the risks of violating the Minsk Agreements. Gazprom supplies of gas to Europe are being undermined as an effort to weaken Russia economically.

Dmitry Piskulov, the chairman of the board of the National Currency Organization, pointed out that the West will suffer an even greater impact from its sanctions. Europe depends on exports of Russian energy carriers. He doubts that the sanctions would be severed. European political leaders do not support that line.  The expert reminded that Iran survived without the SWIFT system, disconnecting Russia from the system would provoke a trade war and violate the WTO rules, he believes.