More European sanctions against Russia unlikely: Ex-Pentagon official

Former Pentagon official Michael Maloof believes that the US has not succeeded in persuading European countries to agree to more sanctions against Russia because of their dependence on Russia’s energy.

Maloof told Press TV on Monday, “The United States could not get Europeans to agree to more sweeping sanctions against Russia because of their dependency on Russia for oil and gas.”

He said, “The Europeans rely heavily on Russia for not only energy but also other trade.”

He added the US took advantage of the situation in Russai as President Vladimir Putin had focused his attention somewhere else other than Ukraine.
Maloof also said, “Frankly, the sanctions I believe are not called for simply because the West started this entire sequence of events that has now led us to where we are right now,” adding that noting that the West “took advantage of the time,” when Sochi Olympics were on in Russia.