Referring to The Executive Order 13660 signed on March 6, 2014, President Obama prolonged sanctions imposed on several Russian individuals and entities until 2016 for what was described in his note to Congress as “the Russian occupation of the Crimea region of Ukraine”. What added more tension to the already troubled US-Russian relations was President Obama pursuing European leaders to weight more sanctions against Russia if Minsk agreement, seen as a road-map to peace in Eastern Ukraine is not fully observed.
Victor Mizin, Deputy Director, Institute for Strategic Assessment, Paul Grenier, an independent writer in the US, who worked for the Pentagon, State Department and World Bank as a Russian interpreter (Washington), Tony Foley, a foreign affairs commentator from the UK, Paolo Salom, Corriera Della Sera, political observer (Milano).
Victor Mizin:
“The general attitude in US is very anti-Russian”
“We are sliding into something like Cold War II”
Tony Foley:
“It is America controlling Europe.”
Paolo Salom:
“Italy is not very happy with sanctions policy against Russia, which is damaging the economy.”
“Italy has always tried to drag Moscow into Europe.”
