Sanctions against Russia have not led to the isolation of the country, even if the West tried to alienate Russia from western markets of capital and technologies. Instead, the sanctions strengthened the ties between Russia and China. Economic cooperation is not the only area, in which the countries became closer in their relations. It is quite possible that Russia and China may join efforts in the field of international politics to compensate for the feeling of frustration caused by the lack of respect from the West, Czech publication Novinky wrote.
Russia will also be developing partnership with new emerging powers such as India and Brazil, the newspaper said. The agreement on cooperation in the field of strengthening the ruble and the yuan and the wish to weaken the dollar as a reserve currency in the world will complete the picture. For President Putin himself, Western sanctions came as a gift from heaven. Putin's support among the population has reached record levels. He has thus took the unwavering leadership position - the position of the leader, around whom people can unite.
The problem of sanctions was based on their gradual introduction. This detail gave Russia time to think about it and find a way out. Half-forward decision proved to be ineffective. As a result, the situation in Ukraine has not improved, Putin's position became stronger, the EU had to take additional costs to respond to Russia's responsive measures, Russia became closer to China, and the EU ruined its friendly ties with Russia. Russian sources will thus flow to the country that will never ever do anything for free to Europe. He who sows the wind, shall reap the whirlwind, the newspaper concluded.
Meanwhile, EU's would-be High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogerini, said that the EU should do everything to prevent Russia from creating a land corridor between the Crimea and the rest of Russia. That was the official's response to the question from European MPs, who wondered what new sanctions the EU was going to take should Russia try to create such a corridor.
Interestingly, whole territories in Italy are opposed to EU's sanctions against Russia after Russia imposed its own sanctions in return. Does Federica Mogerini represent Italy's opinion in the European Union or does she have someone else's opinion in her head?
Doctor of Law, Professor of MGIMO Dmitriy Labin told Pravda.Ru:
"It is difficult to answer because we do not know what she has in her head. That's one thing. Secondly, she is a new person in European politics. It appears, though, that Brussels officials have lost the connection with the peoples, whom they represent at the European Parliament and other bodies of the EU. There is an impression that European officials do illogical and absurd things.
First of all, it appears that the EU wants the global alliance between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Community, the former Soviet Union, to turn into a full-blown economic alliance that represents a certain threat to other groups of states, primarily in North America with the leading position of the United States.
Therefore, it is hard to explain many things that the EU has been doing lately. It appears that they are cutting the branch on which they are sitting. Therefore, in my opinion, the role of the population, people and nation is very important. They can use democratic procedures to change the political course, and now is the time, when they can do so. Perhaps, they can show some civic position and influence their representatives in the European Parliament and other European institutions.
As for the possibility to show external influence on internal affairs of Russia, I think it is hardly achievable. It may also be regarded as interference in internal affairs of the Russian Federation, because the construction of communications, roads and bridges between different regions and territories is purely an internal affair of Russia. Dictating or interfering from the outside is unacceptable from the point of view of both international law and sound logic," the expert told Pravda.Ru.
Pravda.Ru