© Flickr/ Giampaolo Squarcina
The European Union may rethink its sanctions against Russia if the latter abides by ceasefire agreements and abides by the terms of its gas supply deal.The EU is considering the possibility of scaling down its sanctions against Russia and resuming previously-suspended discussions with the country on a broad range of issues, depending on how the situation in Ukraine develops, according to a European Union discussion paper cited by the
Wall Street Journal.
The paper was drafted ahead of the upcoming meeting of the EU member-states' foreign ministers in Brussels, and hasn't been disseminated yet.
According to the paper, the change in the EU's stance would depend on Moscow's implementation of the peace and ceasefire agreements that have already been signed with Ukraine; Russia would also be required to abide by the terms of the gas-supply deal, and not throw "fresh wrenches in the way of the EU-Ukraine trade and political pact," the
Wall Street Journal notes.
In the event of a positive development, the paper suggests a potential increase in cooperation with Russia in the spheres of foreign policy and trade.
The newspaper points out that it is the first serious attempt by the EU officials to scale back tensions related to the Ukrainian crisis and to provide some incentive for Russia to ensure its cooperation. The paper doesn't address the possibility that sanctions may be tightened if the situation in eastern Ukraine deteriorates.
Comment: Some EU countries are already calling to ease Russian sanctions. So the EU is upset that Russia has sent numerous aid convoys and is requiring Ukraine to pay its gas bill? EU must also be upset that Russia cancelled the South Stream pipeline. Seems like the EU is not in a position to bargain but desperately needs the sanctions against Russia lifted to help their flagging economies. But how to lift sanctions without EU losing face or incurring the wrath of the US?
The war is between the Ukrainian government and East Ukraine. Why should Moscow have to implement peace? And how can the EU's decisions depend on something so fictional?
"Russia would also be required to abide by the terms of the gas-supply deal"
Seems to me like everyone except Russia has broken those.