On Monday the proposal will be discussed during the Foreign affairs council meeting, despite Russian and US warnings
by Emiliano Biaggio
To take actions or not to take actions, that is the question. Paraphrasing Shakespeare we get the dilemma is animating Europe in these hours. Within the European Union a strong debate is ongoing on how to deal with the Ukrainian crisis, and next Monday the foreign ministers of the twenty eight member states will put on the table the possibility to impose sanctions against the government of Kiev in response of violences against protesters. At the moment it appears unrealistic to expect any final decision on this issue, as EU is marked by huge internal divisions. On one hand there countries such as Germany that press to send strong signals to Viktor Yanukovych government, but on the other hand there other countries that prefer to maintain prudence. Ukraine is not only a matter of democracy, respect of the rule of law and a strategic partner to drive toward the EU side, Ukraine risks to jeopardise international balances as Russia is directly involved into the situation. Russian president Vladimir Putin made very clear he'll never accept any meddling in what is not considered as a European business. «I am not sure Ukraine needs intermediaries», said Putin last week on the occasion of EU-Russia summit held in Brussels, adding any EU activity on Ukraine will be not welcome. «I can only imagine what the reaction would be if in the heat of the crisis in Greece or Cyprus, our foreign minister came to an anti-European rally and began urging people to do something. This would not be good». Told in other words the European Union has to stay out of Ukraine's political crisis. Such a warning alone clearly describes the rising of tension for a matter becoming more and more sensitive. In Europe is well known imposing sanctions against the Ukrainian republic could generate an unfavorable environment for EU-Russia relationship, and that's the reason why the majority of the member states are not in favour in imposing sanctions. But to make the Ukrainian matter more complicated was the assistant US secretary of state, Victoria Nuland, who blamed the European Union efforts in finding a solution for the political crisis in the former soviet republic. «Fuck the EU», she said in a leaked phone call with the US ambassador to Ukraine, Geoff Pyatt. In Brussels both the European Commission and the Greek presidency of the Council tried to minimized, but is evident Ukraine now has become an international case. «The EU is engaged in helping the people of Ukraine through the current political crisis, and we don’t comment on alleged leaked telephone conversations», said Maja Kocijancic, a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Despite all that, among the twenty eight EU member states there are still those who don't want to give up. Not acting would mean to show EU is weak and not able to resist to the pressure exerted by third countries. «Of course on Monday the question of sanctions against Ukraine will be put on the table», EU officials revealed. The idea will not pass, but the political message will arrive to Kiev, to Moscow and to Washington. And the message is EU started to talk about the possibility to act. The problem is how the counterparts could react.
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- EU to take actions against Ukraine
To take actions or not to take actions, that is the question. Paraphrasing Shakespeare we get the dilemma is animating Europe in these hours. Within the European Union a strong debate is ongoing on how to deal with the Ukrainian crisis, and next Monday the foreign ministers of the twenty eight member states will put on the table the possibility to impose sanctions against the government of Kiev in response of violences against protesters. At the moment it appears unrealistic to expect any final decision on this issue, as EU is marked by huge internal divisions. On one hand there countries such as Germany that press to send strong signals to Viktor Yanukovych government, but on the other hand there other countries that prefer to maintain prudence. Ukraine is not only a matter of democracy, respect of the rule of law and a strategic partner to drive toward the EU side, Ukraine risks to jeopardise international balances as Russia is directly involved into the situation. Russian president Vladimir Putin made very clear he'll never accept any meddling in what is not considered as a European business. «I am not sure Ukraine needs intermediaries», said Putin last week on the occasion of EU-Russia summit held in Brussels, adding any EU activity on Ukraine will be not welcome. «I can only imagine what the reaction would be if in the heat of the crisis in Greece or Cyprus, our foreign minister came to an anti-European rally and began urging people to do something. This would not be good». Told in other words the European Union has to stay out of Ukraine's political crisis. Such a warning alone clearly describes the rising of tension for a matter becoming more and more sensitive. In Europe is well known imposing sanctions against the Ukrainian republic could generate an unfavorable environment for EU-Russia relationship, and that's the reason why the majority of the member states are not in favour in imposing sanctions. But to make the Ukrainian matter more complicated was the assistant US secretary of state, Victoria Nuland, who blamed the European Union efforts in finding a solution for the political crisis in the former soviet republic. «Fuck the EU», she said in a leaked phone call with the US ambassador to Ukraine, Geoff Pyatt. In Brussels both the European Commission and the Greek presidency of the Council tried to minimized, but is evident Ukraine now has become an international case. «The EU is engaged in helping the people of Ukraine through the current political crisis, and we don’t comment on alleged leaked telephone conversations», said Maja Kocijancic, a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Despite all that, among the twenty eight EU member states there are still those who don't want to give up. Not acting would mean to show EU is weak and not able to resist to the pressure exerted by third countries. «Of course on Monday the question of sanctions against Ukraine will be put on the table», EU officials revealed. The idea will not pass, but the political message will arrive to Kiev, to Moscow and to Washington. And the message is EU started to talk about the possibility to act. The problem is how the counterparts could react.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- EU to take actions against Ukraine
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