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EU's Russia sanctions set to last until end of 2015

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Should be continued until Crimea is returned, and yes I realize that means forever. The EU is under no obligation to trade with a country that doesn't respect democracy and freedom of speech as agreed to in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

@Bush

I tend to agree with your posts, but

1) How is " blamed" a present participle? It's just simple past tense.

2) Surely "the West" is the "active agent" in the sentence.

No?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@BB

We know that MH-17 was shot with BUK missile. It was either rebels or Ukranian army. Ukranian army doesn't have any reason to shot anti aircraft missile, except if they plotted some kind conspiracy where they shot down MH-17 and blamed rebels.

At least you admit that western media is trying to tell the truth. In Russia it is impossible, because the government do the lying and telling the truth would cost your life.

That's why the peace agreement won't hold. Ukraine is demanding honest elections on rebel held areas. Russia opposes that, because Putin's power depends of fraud.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Bush

Now I get it.... : )

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@hameln

We know that MH-17 was shot with BUK missile

We don't know it for sure. While there were speculations last summer that the rebels shot down MH17 with a "Buk" missile, now Netherlands (its authorities are investigating the MH17 tragedy) prefer not to say it until the investigation is complete.

Ukranian army doesn't have any reason to shot

Check this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberia_Airlines_Flight_1812

@scipantheist

country that doesn't respect democracy and freedom of speech

We've had this discussion already. Russia respects freedom of speech. There are opposition radio stations, newspapers, blogs. Periodically anti-Putin opposition stages noisy rallies in Moscow. They are not very large, 30-40 thousands max, because pro-Western opposition is rather unpopular in Russia, but at last they are allowed to express their opinion. If you're so worried about freedom of speech, you're welcome to promote them in Saudi Arabia, Bahrein, Qatar etc. Why not to slap sanctions on these "heavens of freedom"?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Asakaze

We've had this discussion already.

We will have this discussion until you acknowledge some truths.

If you're so worried about freedom of speech, you're welcome to promote them in Saudi Arabia, Bahrein, Qatar etc. Why not to slap sanctions on these "heavens of freedom"?

No one calls them "heavens of freedom". I would be fine bombing these countries yesterday. Fact is, all except Saudi Arabia are small countries of little consequence. Saudi Arabia itself has some military and financial power, but less than that of Russia and it has never 1.) had ideological ambitions beyond the middle east. 2.) tried to make itself a technological power. 3.) tried to become a permanent member of the UN security council.

There are opposition radio stations, newspapers, blogs.

I notice you left out TV stations. Without a broad reach, such token measures are meaningless. The mainstream media refuses to acknowledge that protests are happening, so how can anyone turn out to protest? Then we have the attempts to limit the access of people to Twitter, Google, and Facebook. Russia creates its own internal bubble so that it doesn't have to listen to outside criticism. Finally, we have the trumped up charges against opposition leaders and journalists to make sure that if someone gets too popular, they can be sent to Siberia for a couple years and their reputation defamed. These are not the practices of a government which values freedom of speech. Look at the length of time Vladimir Putin has been in charge of Russia. Going on 16 years. It would be funny if it weren't so sad for the future of freedom in the world.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@scipantheist

We will have this discussion until you acknowledge some truths

And the most obvious truth is that you (just as well as the whole US foreign policy) has a set of double or evem triple standards for freedom of speech you use at your choice. So, according to your logic, if a country is not big, has no ambitions beyond its region, it:s OK to jail opposition and to send tanks to another country to help a brotherly dictator? Don`t you think it is very illogical? For example, criminal law is uniform for everybody (at least in theory), and for the same crime there is the same punishment, no matter what offenders sizes or ambitions are.

I notice you left out TV stations

And if they have one you would say "not enough, they must have ten". If they have ten you would say "not enough, Putin must give them twenty". So, back to our previous discussion - you admitted that everything US politicians say about freedoms etc is just words, only political and economical interests matter. So please stop using the subject of freedom of speech (or human rights or anything else) as an excuse to endulge in abject Russophobia. If you want to promote freedom of speech, then make one set of standards and defend them in all countries equally.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

EU economic sanctions against Russia due to expire in July will now be tied to the full implementation of the Minsk ceasefire accord in Ukraine, which is not expected until the end of this year, EU president Donald Tusk said Thursday

EU countries provide about half of all Russian exports and imports. So, over the last decade trade increased by more than 3 times and by 2012 reached 336.5 billion. Euro. Exports of goods from Russia to the EU in the period from 2002 to 2012. increased 3.5 times - from 64.49 to 213.3 billion. Euro. The volume of imports from the EU to Russia for the same period also increased by 3.5 times - from 34.42 to 123.2 billion. Euro. Thus, the EU firmly occupies the first place in Russia's foreign trade. In the EU foreign trade Russia ranks third after the United States and China. However, the volume of imports from the EU in 2012 came ahead of the US and Russia came in second place.

OK - what does it means ?? EU&RF during Putin's time very successfully developed economical ties.

And Russia even begin to displace US in EU foreign trade. Russia sell mostly but not only resources and buy everething from Mercedes till apples - really good customer for EU !!

Economical ties means political integration. So somebody should stop it. The most active in this area are east - European countries like Baltic States or Poland - 100 % Russophobic and pro - American ( and of course with very weak economy!!)

As a result both parts lose a lot. But surprisingly EU lose much more. Russia can reorient gas oil ores and timber export to Asia. And Asia need a lot of resources today !

So Russia can replace EU. But EU can't replace Russia

Without Russia EU has no future.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I stand by my comments that Russia does not have democracy, nor freedom of speech. Putin's 16 years of power have proven this and there is no end in sight. The only rational solution is sanctioning until they are ready to join the civilized world.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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