07-29-2014, 11:35 AM
EU AGREES TO TOUGHER ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA
Since the downing of MH17, rather than distancing himself from the separatists and de-escalating the activity at the Russia/Ukraine border, Putin has defended the separatists (though still not acknowledging the plane downing was their doing) and reportedly stepped up Russian military activity in the Eastern Ukraine.
Putin's attitude and actions in the wake of the MH17 crash are looking to be the real game changers for the EU. Despite the fact that stricter sanctions will result in financial hits to the British banking community, the French arms trade business, and Germany's energy supply, the EU has reportedly agreed to tighten the screws on Russia in those industries. Russia has a lot to lose economically if it doesn't come to the table to negotiate and its European trade partners turn to other markets.
![[Image: EU_Russia-trade.jpg]](http://www.acting-man.com/blog/media/2014/03/EU_Russia-trade.jpg)
The western hope is that the pain to the Russian economy will be severe enough to pressure Putin into stepping back in regards to Ukraine aggression.
I really thought Putin would have already started reversing course in Ukraine, with some strategic positioning in his favor, but he has not. Even his partners are calling him out now, but he seems intent on ignoring those calls.
The details of the sanctions are expected to be released this week.
Since the downing of MH17, rather than distancing himself from the separatists and de-escalating the activity at the Russia/Ukraine border, Putin has defended the separatists (though still not acknowledging the plane downing was their doing) and reportedly stepped up Russian military activity in the Eastern Ukraine.
Putin's attitude and actions in the wake of the MH17 crash are looking to be the real game changers for the EU. Despite the fact that stricter sanctions will result in financial hits to the British banking community, the French arms trade business, and Germany's energy supply, the EU has reportedly agreed to tighten the screws on Russia in those industries. Russia has a lot to lose economically if it doesn't come to the table to negotiate and its European trade partners turn to other markets.
The western hope is that the pain to the Russian economy will be severe enough to pressure Putin into stepping back in regards to Ukraine aggression.
I really thought Putin would have already started reversing course in Ukraine, with some strategic positioning in his favor, but he has not. Even his partners are calling him out now, but he seems intent on ignoring those calls.
The details of the sanctions are expected to be released this week.