With a move towards enhanced sanctions against Russia, major European states believe they have taken a step to punish the Russians for their actions in Ukraine. But they have still not made the tough moves that would truly penalize the Russians. What they have taken are baby steps. The Europeans have not learned from history. And as George Santayana said- “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” The European Union and its most powerful members continue to appease President Putin and Russia reminiscent of the way Neville Chamberlin, England and France appeased Hitler and Germany when they took the Sudatenland from Czechoslovakia prior to World War II.[icopyright one button toolbar]
Russia has already annexed the Crimea which was formally part of Ukraine, although populated mainly with Russian speaking citizens. This land grab was answered by the European Union with admonitions, but no major sanctions that would impact the Russian economy or make Putin cautious. Economic sanctions are the only weapon the Europeans possess, since they have been cutting their defense budgets and the size of their militaries since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. There was a belief by European leaders that no military threats existed to challenge geographical borders established after the fall of the Soviet Union, so why spend the money on defense.
However, Russia under Putin has become an aggressor nation, seizing land from Georgia and occupying parts of Moldavia, as well as setting up the “nation” of Transnistria, which is not recognized by any other country. Now the Russians are supplying armaments, including advanced missile systems to the separatists in the Eastern Ukraine. The shooting down of a Malaysian commercial airliner has resulted from this, a war crime whether or not it was an accident. Some Russian troops have infiltrated Eastern Ukraine to help the separatists and the Russians have been firing artillery across the border. Putin is trying to destabilize Ukraine and perhaps have the Russian speaking areas seek union with Russia. He refuses to recognize that the nations formally bound to the Soviet Union are now independent and want to go their own way. The Soviet sphere of influence would be gone if the power of the Russian army were neutralized.
But how can that be accomplished. Certainly not militarily, when no nation wants to see a major war and the Russian army is dominant on the European land mass. The only answer to Russian “imperialism” are economic sanctions against Putin’s cronies and sectors of the Russian economy. With the United States leading the way, new sanctions are going to be imposed that will have some bite, but remain a joke to Russia. Even after the civilian deaths from the downing of a commercial airliner, the Europeans still consider their immediate self-interest paramount. They don’t seem to understand that their inertia will only encourage Putin.
There is no question there would be economic effects on the European nations that have active commercial ties with Russia if more powerful sanctions were applied. But the costs to Russia would be much greater and it is the only way the Europeans can stop Russian incursions and their support for the Ukrainian separatists. Unfortunately, Europe is partially dependent on Russia for their energy needs, and Germany has opposed any measures that might affect natural gas sales, a major part of the Russian economy.
France, that great defender of human rights, has been particularly anxious to accommodate Russia instead of standing up to Putin. While the Europeans have embargoed “future” sales of arms to Russia, current contracts will be allowed. The reason is that Russia is purchasing two state of the art amphibious warships being built by France, a deal that defies belief. Though France will receive several billions euros for the ships and two thousand jobs are provided by their production, they are building advanced military hardware for a potential enemy. Mon Dieu!
Though the capital markets and banks with ties to the Russian state have been targeted with sanctions, Great Britain is not willing to curb the entire Russian financial sector. Doing that would impact Britain’s financial sector as well.
Little Netherlands is one of Russia’s major trading partners. Though the majority of passengers on the doomed Malaysian flight were Dutch, Prime Minister Rutte was very slow in condemning Russia and agreeing that more sanctions against Russia was necessary.
Overall, the European Union has not taken the necessary steps to keep Russia in check, using hope rather than concrete moves to counter Putin’s expansionist dreams. In addition to sanctions, the European Union nations need to spend money for defense and strengthen their armed services as a prophylactic measure. Europe should not continue to depend on the U.S. for protection. And the 2018 World Cup should be taken away from Russia because of its actions. Submission to aggression without counter moves only encourages the aggressor.
Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com
Political junkie, Vietnam vet, neurologist- three books on aging and dementia. Book on health care reform in 2009- Shock Therapy for the American Health Care System. Book on the need for a centrist third party- Resurrecting Democracy- A Citizen’s Call for a Centrist Third Party published in 2011. Aging Wisely, published in August 2014 by Rowman and Littlefield. Latest book- The Uninformed Voter published May 2020