Why Washington Wants Sanctions to 'Weaken Both Russia, Europe'

There should be no serious problems with the extension of anti-Russian sanctions by the European Union, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. Political analyst Oleg Matveichev thinks that sanctions will be extended under US pressure but Europe’s patience is running out.

On Monday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told journalists that there should be no serious problems to extend anti-Russian economic sanctions. According to her, the issue will not be on the agenda of the EU foreign ministers’ meeting and will be discussed at the end of the week, at a meeting of EU leaders.

Earlier, a source close the EU Council said that European sanctions against Russia which expire in late-January 2016 will be extended no matter what.

Recently, the EU has been preparing to extend anti-Russian economic sanctions, bound to the implementation of the Minsk peace agreements on Ukraine. The draft resolution has already been worked out and may have been adopted without high-profile discussions. However, that did not happen. According to different sources, the decision was blocked by Italy. Luxembourg also opposed the automatic prolongation without discussing the Minsk agreements.

The EU has imposed its economic sanctions against Russia since August 1 2014 for one year. In September 2014, they were expanded, including an embargo on new export and import arms contracts.

The sanctions will surely be extended, Oleg Matveichev, a political analyst and professor at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, said.

"Undoubtedly, the sanctions will be prolonged despite Italy’s calls for discussions. The US pressure is strong and its reputation is still unchallenged so Washington can extend the sanctions. The US is interested in prolonging them every year, with or without the Minsk agreements," Matveichev told Sputnik Radio.

At the same time, he underscored, new sanctions against Russia are unlikely.

"On the other hand, the limit of US pressure on Europe has been reached so new sanctions against Russia are unlikely. If the situation stays the same for a year Europe may protest and start easing the sanctions," Matveichev said.

According to the analyst, the EU has no reasonable ground to bind the extension of sanctions to its claims that Russia allegedly ignores the Minsk agreements.

"Donbass observes the Minsk agreements, and Ukraine does not. Normally, Ukraine should be punished with sanctions, not Russia. What is more, OSCE observers have been reported violations of the agreements by Kiev. It’s getting obvious that all of the above is nothing but a pretext. The US is the backstage orchestrator in this situation. Washington wants sanctions to weaken Europe and Russia mutually," he pointed out.

Russia’s policy toward Ukraine is right and justified, Matveichev underscored.