European leaders are starting to get cold feet on these Russian sanctions. The Belgian leader has called for a “pause” on them.
RT:
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has welcomed the EU agreement on a sixth package of sanctions against Moscow but called for a “pause” until the impact of the measures is known.
Earlier on Tuesday, EU Council President Charles Michel confirmed that the bloc’s member states had agreed in principle a sixth round of anti-Russia sanctions, which include a partial embargo on Russian oil. The sanctions are being imposed in response to Moscow’s military offensive in Ukraine.
Speaking to journalists ahead of day two of the EU summit in Brussels, De Croo said the impact of oil sanctions would be “enormous” and thus “a pause” is needed.
“For Belgium, this package is a big step forward, let’s stop there for now and see its impact,” the prime minister said.
He added that the main priority now is to find the best way “to keep energy prices under control.”
These people have to know that the war in Ukraine is not going well. The only move they have left to save the project is to commit NATO forces into the country, but it doesn’t seem as if they have the balls to do that.
Besides, there is growing discontent among the domestic populations of Europe over the worsening economic conditions.
The Russians should just tighten the economic screws until their demands are met. That’s what I would do if I were Vladimir Putin. The Russians are under no obligation to sell Europe any of its energy and especially not after what’s unfolded. They have plenty of other customers throughout the world and don’t need to deal with them.
