Russia handling of the EU: sanctions against Moscow – a mistake?

In Brussels, the EU foreign ministers are discussing further sanctions against Russia – which Hungary, for example, openly doubts. A further 500 million euros in military aid for Ukraine has already been agreed.

The war in Ukraine continues and the EU will continue to support Ukraine, Josep Borrell assured. The EU foreign policy chief had suggested that Ukraine should get an additional 500 million euros for the supply of arms and equipment, bringing the total to 2.5 billion euros. The foreign ministers have now basically given the go-ahead for this. The final decision on military aid will be made in the next few days, Borrell said.

Another decision could also be made this week: an import ban on Russian gold. In addition, the ambassadors of the 27 member states are also discussing putting other people and organizations on the sanctions list.

Some doubt the effectiveness of the sanctions

However, there is no talk of a new sanctions package in Brussels, where the question of whether the previous sanctions are effective is now being discussed more loudly.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban had doubted that a few days ago and spoke of a mistake. The EU not only shot itself in the knee, but in the lung. Clear words from Budapest, which EU foreign policy chief Borrell contradicted just as clearly: From his point of view, the sanctions are not a mistake, one had to do it and will continue to do it.

Support for previous course

Some foreign ministers joined Borrell, such as Alexander Schallenberg from Austria: “The Russian economy is expected to slump by ten percent this year alone, while economic growth within the EU is still expected to be just over two percent.”
Almost the entire Russian automotive industry is at a standstill. “We have to act with a sense of proportion here and see things as they are,” said Schallenberg. Because if you don’t do anything, you realize that international law is being trampled on.

Chief diplomat Borrell also received support from European Minister of State Anna Lührmann, who was deputizing for Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: “We can see very clearly that the Russian economy has been hit very hard by the sanctions. Above all, we also see that central economic sectors, such as the aviation industry, for example that they are not making any progress there,” said Lührmann. “And that’s why it’s very important that these sanctions are upheld.”

Distress – Consequence of war not sanctions

From the point of view of many in the EU, it is also important to counter the Russian claim that sanctions have led to a food crisis. Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn accused President Vladimir Putin of destroying fields and grain reserves in Ukraine: “I hope that the world will see, everywhere, on all continents, the means he is using. There must be a change of heart on different continents.”

One has to accept that the distress caused by the war is not caused by the sanctions, but by the war itself. “As far as sanctions are concerned, you know that we haven’t forbidden anyone, including Russia, to export food,” said Asselborn.

A solution to export grain from Ukraine to the world does not yet exist. However, EU chief diplomat Borrell hopes that an agreement can also be reached this week to lift the blockade of Odessa and other Ukrainian ports.