Opponents to Russia sanctions swelling, Steinmeier says

Opponents to extending sanctions against Russia this year are swelling within the EU political establishment, making it harder to find a consolidated position, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview published on May 15. “Regardless of this being difficult, we will strive for this consolidated position,” he said. The most industrialized nations are interested in Russia returning to the G8 once the Minsk accords are fulfilled, he said.

The governments of five northern European nations have agreed on the need to extend sanctions against Russia, U.S. President Barack Obama said on May 13, as reported by the Reuters news agency. Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland are united in their concerns over Russian aggression, he said. In late April, support for extending sanctions was offered by French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Zenon Zawada: Besides confirming the re-emerging “Ukraine fatigue” within the EU, Steinmeier’s statement is a means of prodding the Ukrainian government to move forward on organizing elections in Donbas and conducting reforms within its government.

We have little doubt that all of the West’s sanctions against Russia – both on Crimea and Donbas – will be extended this year. But lack of action on the Ukrainian government’s part, in organizing elections and conducting reforms, will lead to that consolidation disintegrating by 2017. On the other hand, such unity will be bolstered if the Ukrainian government acts effectively.