EU justified in refusal to slap sanctions on Russia: Analyst

The European Union (EU) has every reason not to slap sanctions, to the dismay of the United States, on Russia over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, an analyst writes in a column for the Press TV website.

“The Europeans have powerful reasons not to sanction Moscow, and US avoidance of this fact shows a negligent attitude towards what the US calls its European allies,” Harry J. Bentham wrote on Wednesday.

The US has repeatedly threatened Russia with sanctions over its actions in Ukraine specially its military build-up in the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.

Moscow sent its troops to Crimea after the Russian parliament gave the green light to President Vladimir Putin, to use armed forces ‘to protect Russia’s interests in that region.’

In a statement on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would have to respond in such situations that are provoked by “Washington’s rash and irresponsible actions.”

Bentham said the US intention to impose sanctions on Russia constitutes “another example of the US sidelining the interests of its own European allies, who would be harmed by these sanctions.”

He said Europe depends on Russia’s gas, adding that Moscow exercises strong influence over Germany, which is the most important economy in Europe.

“In terms of facts on the ground, Russia has the advantage in Europe because of the gas supply. The US has no comparable concrete lever over European capitals, in particular Berlin,” wrote Bentham.
Political crisis erupted in Ukraine in November 2013, after the country’s ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych, refrained from signing an Association Agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.