EU is finally backing up its words with actions on the crisis in Ukraine: in an unprecedented show of European unity, the EU has paved the way for sanctions on Russian officials and freezing of Russian assets in the West. This is particularly symbolic as such measures can only be passed by a consensus of all 28 member states of the EU - even a single vote against the decision could have stopped it from being passed. Russian reaction shows that Russia - which has close economic and military ties with such members of the EU as Germany, France, the UK and Italy - was certainly not expecting such solidarity from the EU. The main demand behind the sanctions is Russian recognition of the legitimacy of the new government in Kyiv and, as a consequence, withdrawal of Russian troops and recognition of Ukraines integrity within her borders. Although these European measures might seem weak for some of the hard liners, they show a surprisingly unified Europe - indeed, a radical change in European politics.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:49:02 +0000