by
N. Peter Kramer
France, Germany, The Netherlands and the southern memberstates -Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal and Spain- were showing a tendency for this self-criticism; with Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia not opposing this position. As a result the meeting to update the EU Permanent Representatives (Ambassadors) in Brussels after Athens was postponed. It made clear that there is a growing division between the memberstates on how to handle the crisis with Russia.
The US shows an increasing willingness to accommodate Russia. A White House spokesperson said that Russia’s idea to create a federal structure in Ukraine is not out of question if Ukraine agrees: ‘the Ukrainian government needs to be at the table to discuss’. It will probably be top of the agenda when the US, Russia, Ukraine and the EU are hold talks sometime next week. What is the reason for the US to come back from its hard stance against Russia? Is it fear of a barter agreement allowing Iran to sell its oil to Russia in exchange for goods and equipment? Breaking the oil embargo could encourage China and others to ignore the sanctions and give Iran a greater incentive to maintain a hardline position. Or fear that Moscow gives a green light for more intensive supplies of arms to Syria? Not to forget that Washington needs Russia for the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, an unprecedentedly extensive military operation.
Punishing Russian officials and oligarchs by blocking their creditcards and bankaccounts is very brave; as is blocking broadcasts from Russia in Estonia and Lithuania of course. But it seems there is a lot more at stake…
By: N. Peter Kramer
