Politico: the EU is no longer thinking about new sanctions against Russia

The European Union has stopped thinking about imposing new sanctions against Russia. About it informs newspaper Politico, citing sources among high-ranking EU officials.

According to the interlocutor of the publication, the European Union is simply not up to sanctions now, so the bloc has stopped thinking about introducing additional restrictions.

“The appetite has waned,” said an EU diplomat. He noted that the adoption of new restrictions is becoming increasingly difficult with each new sanctions package.

The source clarified that the authorities of the EU countries are afraid of Hungary’s reaction to the new proposals for restrictions. It is noted that the country’s authorities may block the adoption of a new package of sanctions.

Concerns are also raised by Italy’s position on this issue, when a new government is formed in the country. In early September, the leader of the Italian League party and former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini called on the EU authorities to compensate Italy for losses due to anti-Russian sanctions. He called the restrictions “ineffective”.

The newspaper also points out that it is increasingly difficult for Europe to find measures that would cause Russia more harm than the EU. “The current energy crisis is unnerving all political leaders because they are afraid of the political consequences. In many countries, it is about the survival of their governments,” another EU official told the publication.

Earlier today, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declaredthat the sanctions did not bring the desired result. According to him, it was not possible to weaken Russia, military operations in Ukraine also continue. “The inflation and energy shortage caused by the sanctions could bring Europe to its knees,” the prime minister said.

Prior to this, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, spoke about the fatigue of the citizens of the EU countries due to anti-Russian sanctions. He noted that the Europeans are very concerned about the coming winter. At the same time, in his opinion, it is not the EU sanctions that are to blame for the current situation, but the policy of Russia, which “turns energy into a weapon.”

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