Posted on 09/26/2016 11:14:37 PM PDT by Olog-hai
European Union leaders will explore next month the possibility of improving strained ties with Russia in response to growing irritation among some member states over economic sanctions imposed on Moscow over its role in the Ukraine crisis.
But the sanctions appear likely to remain in place for now, especially those slapped over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula seized by Russia in March 2014, despite the legal and political challenges of maintaining them.
A series of Reuters investigations recently showed how European companies including German retailer Metro and France’s Auchan were doing business in Crimea despite the punitive sanctions regime there.
EU leaders will review the state of relations with Russia at a summit on Oct. 20-21, with the hawks’ camp weakened by Britain’s decision to leave the bloc and by increased strains between Brussels and Poland’s nationalist-minded government. …
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Russia’s not going to drop their counter sanctions. Putin wisely viewed the sanctions as a golden optunity to grow Russian industries while being able to rightly blame the West for them. Obama didn’t intend it, but he’s making Russia stronger in the long run by his actions.
I would not say that Obama did not intend it. Anything that increases hostility anywhere seems to fit his agenda.
Europe has to decide between normal relations or to continue to punish Russia.
It cannot have both.
During the 70s and 80s South Africa became a first world industrial power due to the sanctions that crippled their formally raw material exporting economy. It's very unlikely Obama understands that sanctions tend to make capitalist nations stronger and wealthier by forcing local industry formation due to his neo-liberial trade beliefs.
He intended it, the Saudis wanted it because they were so sure they'd have Syria abolished to make way for a pipeline from Qatar through Saudi Arabia to Turkey, Turkey wanted it for the income that pipeline would generate, and last but not least, Obama wanted the EU weakened as a way to lean on them so they'd go along with the new trade agreements along with vastly reducing the amount of gas and oil they buy from Russia.
Of course Obama intended it, his Neocon pals have been planning this for a long time as shown by the fact that they took out Libya before moving on Syria to ensure that when they pipeline they figured was a done deal was built Europe would have no alternative to that pipeline.
Dunno how I did that, but the first line should say “. . . so dealing with that flood was more of a strain than it would be otherwise”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.