While the Obama Administration is quite gung ho about the prospect of imposing sanctions on Russia over the current Crimea crisis, the European Union has been very reluctant to sign off on the plan.
That’s because many of the nations, particularly Britain, see the sanctions as far too costly to their own economies, which have had growing ties with Russia, particularly its vast energy sector.
Britain’s own position, revealed in a leaked document, is to agree to travel bans and other measures, but to oppose any economic sanctions, fearing it would risk lucrative investment deals in London.
Russia’s stock market dropped like a rock on Monday, and the central bank has been trying to prop up the ruble amid investor concern. The threat of sanctions has already had an impact, even if those sanctions themselves never come.
President Putin, meanwhile, has confirmed “serious concerns” about the impact of potential sanctions on exporters from the Customs Union, and during a meeting with presidents from fellow members Belarus and Kazakhstan suggested “measures” to protect their producers and exporters.
The Russian stock market recovered nearly all of Monday's losses the next morning. Research please.
If Gazprom cuts off the energy there will be riots across Europe in a matter of weeks. bottom-line: they can't sanction Russia without destroying themselves – Ironically, the same reason they can't go to war with them. Looks like the Russkies has two bombs – The hydrogen and economic bomb.
Good on the Russians doing what Western governments do to others
Whilst Obama and the West better understand Moscow isn't to be threatened and treated like just some other Nation
Regardless, it won't stop the aging Cold Warriors and neocon Israel-Firsters Congresscritters in the US from pissing and moaning about the lack of a forceful attack on Putin. It galls them that they will end up on the wrong end of history (again). Prepare thyself for self-righteous punditry run amok – it 's gathering steam and the MSM are ready, willing, and able to wave the flag for them.
It seems the corporate press is always ready to up the ante and sacrifice someone else's kids to die for the expansion of American fascism.
The Cold Warriors are spoiled, they do not know what it is like to truly suffer the deprivations of worldwide war and economic depression.
For the same reason as Mr Ditz, I don't see the EU imposing sanctions on Russia. Europe is already too integarted for that to be really workable just as, for the same reason, it would be just too difficult for Russia to make war on Ukraine. Obama's problem is different. He has to contend with the warmongering of the neocons, who are now trying frantically to salvage something from the wreckage of Nuland's monumental blunder. He may just throw them a bone in the form of a few meaningless sanctions. Incidentally, Putin's consultation of Belarus and Kazakhstan suggests that he believes that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement will ultimately be signed.
Obama himselfe is a warmonger with a different approach. The different is tha Neo cons want fir us military direct action toward Russia, Syria and Iran, what he is doing is that: he uses the supply of terrorists by Saudis and UAE in Syria, and what in form of Neo, old and ok'd fascism supplied by Neo liberal fascist from Sweden to all over Europe.
In regard to EU and Russian economic relations and USG suggesting economic sanctions toward Russia, USG cannot and will not do it alone, there is nothing economically that USG is able to do, but as always they can bluff, therefore, USG needs the European cooperation, the European-Russian $450 billion trade agreement is the amount that EU needs to sanction, if they can efford the amount without Swedish retired people die of hunger, or the English retired people die at their home not being able to warm themselves then be it. But for your and antiwar.com info., The Swedish retired get to eat cat and dog food because is cheaper, the English elderly are already dying in their homes during winter because they can not efford paying their heating costs. Neo fascism in Europe is on the rise, Angela Markell name is Angel but there is no heavenly angelican coming out of her. And these people already have started acting upon their inhumanity in Ukraine.
The American cowardice and hypocrisy is galling: We only impose sanctions and act in our usual sanctimonous way when those we sanction have nothing to hit back at us with. However, in Russia's case… hmm, they can hurt us in return. Better cool it boys and lets pick on a weak nation that cannot defend itself.
Europeans are aware of little things like history too. Such as the fact that Crimea was part of russia 100 years before the united states had a constitution. Most people in Europe will not get very exicted about this. US would like to drive a wedge between Russia and Europe, but it is too late. The question for me is will US action have the opposite effect.
Only nation that needs sanctioning is the state of Israel. Obama even warned Netanyahu that it might be coming from Europe.