Reuters: Russia, EU bristle at proposed new U.S. sanctions on Moscow, warn of action
MOSCOW/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Russia warned it was edging closer to retaliation against Washington after the House of Representatives backed new U.S. sanctions on Moscow, while the European Union said the move might affect its energy security and it stood ready to act too.
The lower house of the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly voted to impose new sanctions on Moscow on Tuesday and to force President Donald Trump to obtain lawmakers' permission before easing any punitive measures on Russia.
"This is rather sad news from the point of view of Russia-U.S. ties," said Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman. "We are talking about an extremely unfriendly act."
He said President Vladimir Putin would decide if and how Moscow would retaliate once the fresh sanctions became law, while Russia's deputy foreign minister warned the move was taking bilateral relations into uncharted waters, killing off any hope of improving them in the near future.
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WNU editor: Russia is in a quandary on this issue. They know that President Trump wants to build better relations with Russia and that he does not favour new sanctions. They also understand the politics that are swirling around in Washington, and the blame that they (the Kremlin) are receiving for "hacking" the U.S. election. But any Russian response to these new sanctions would only undermine President Trump .... and at this moment in time he is the only one in Washington who wants to deal with them. My prediction .... the Kremlin is going to retaliate, and their hope is that the EU will put pressure on the U.S. to soften and/or minimise these sanctions. As for the EU itself .... they are justifiably steamed. These new sanctions will harm their business interests with Russia, and they will probably retaliate.
More News On Russia And The EU Reacting To The U.S. Congress Passing New Sanctions On Russia
House Approves Sweeping Sanctions Package Against Russia -- NYT
New U.S. sanctions "closing off the prospect for normalizing ties," Russian diplomat says -- CBS/AP
Kremlin says new sanctions are sad news for US-Russia relations -- The Guardian
Putin Yet to Decide on Russia's Response to New US Sanctions - Kremlin -- Sputnik
Moscow to frame stance on new sanctions once US bill becomes law -- TASS
Russia cautions U.S. on new sanctions -- The Hill
Russia Warns of ‘Painful’ Response If Trump Backs U.S. Sanctions -- Bloomberg
Russia sanctions: EU vows to retaliate over US measures -- BBC
EU warns US over 'America first' Russia sanctions bill -- CNN
EU warns US of retaliation over Russia sanctions -- Digital Journal
Russian energy sanctions bill puts another crack in strained US-Europe relations -- CNBC
France says U.S. sanctions on Iran, Russia look illegal -- Reuters
4 comments:
That's the end of any good relationship and common project with Russia. That's a huge strategic mistake.
http://i.imgur.com/XA1Nreh.jpg
No evidence has been presented that Russia either hacked the election or colluded with the Trump campaign. Furthermore getting involved in the Ukrainian appearing to be on the side of government hostile to Russia coupled with sanctions against Russia for this were twin stupid moves arguably the dumbest moves ever made by a major power in the history of civilization. Then the US government wants to double down on stupidity and impose still more sanctions. When one is in a hole as America and its leaders are, the best thing to do is to STOP DIGGING!!
Of course the EU is going to bristle at these sanctions. They are looking out for their interests. There is something else everyone needs to think about that I am pretty sure EU officials have thought about. America due to its current situation is going to be unable and unwilling to have a major impact on Europe for much longer. In contrast, Russia has been there for centuries and will continue to be there. Essentially America is a temporary phenomenon, a "flash in the pan." In contrast Russia is essentially forever. Western European leaders will be considering this when they make their decisions. Eastern European leaders will no doubt have a similar decision making process to Western European ones. This coupled with their energy needs mean that it is much more important to them to have cordial working relations with Russia than it is to do anything America might want.
All these sanctions accomplish are: 1.) p!ss people off, 2.)undermine the role of the dollar as world reserve currency hastening its inevitable end in this role and ensuring a hard landing as opposed to the desired soft landing when this does happen, 3.)further exacerbate Cold War 2 that American leaders have gone out of their way to exacerbate without any good reason for doing so, 4.)further reinforce the idea that Americans are out to hurt Russia (see point 3), and 4.)undercutting our "allies" all but ensuring they will no longer be "allies" but instead ensuring they will now become our enemies meaning we will be facing Russia essentially alone.
As for the Senate, hats off to Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders who had the courage to do the right thing in the face of opposition. Essentially to impose sanctions on Russia is suicidal for America. Right now Donald Trump and those few who in the House and Senate who had the sense to vote "no" seem to be America's only hope. While DJT probably cannot override a veto, at least by vetoing this he is on record for doing that which is right and perhaps the Russians and others will take this into account as they mete out punishment on America and, as I pointed out, this was completely unnecessary and contrary to American interests in the first place. Hopefully POTUS and his team have the courage to do that which is right as the seem to be America's only hope right about now.
In a new Cold War with Russia, while unlikely, we might "win." Best case scenario it would be EXTREMELY costly. What is most likely to happen is they will step up the sponsorship of proxies against us, step up interference in our affairs, our "allies" will abandon us as it becomes to costly to business with us, the loss of the dollar as world reserve currency will be hard landing, the Russians and their leadership will become even more aggressive against us, and they will wear us down until we are no longer able to put up a fight. Again, when in a hole, the best course of action is STOP DIGGING!!
What B. Poster said. Iamgine a foreign nation mandates you accept its currency in international transactions and then says you have no rights to use said currency. That means you get no payment for goods and / or services. Would you take such garbage lying down ?
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