Europe's Delay of More Sanctions on Russia is Denial of a Forthcoming Inevitable

European Union(EU) foreign ministers meeting in Latvia are prepared to impose more sanctions on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. 

Yet, at this time, the ministers have instead opted to prioritize bolstering a fragile ceasefire that has already been violated. The EU wants to strengthen ceasefire monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE) - the same organization whose workers have previously been kidnapped by rebels in Ukraine's east and denied entry to areas of the conflict zone by pro-Russian separatists.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini told the Latvia conference of ministers that: "So far the ceasefire has been starting, not perfect with some violations still, but for sure the trend is a positive one...we need...to strengthen the OSCE mission that is on the ground now," Reuters reported earlier today.

With regards to sanctions, the Italian Diplomat said:"They will not be lifted until something really good happens on the ground and on the other side we are always ready to increase pressure if needed." 

On the other hand, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, one of the enlightened Europeans of Vladimir Putin's true agenda, acknowledged that extending sanctions upon Russia to the end of the year was "the least we can do."

But soon the EU will have to re-look its sanctions on Russia for its meddling in Ukraine. Pro-Russian rebels have gained a sizable swath of Ukraine's territory so it is to their benefit to now honor a ceasefire. They have grabbed and gained more territory under the said ceasefire. This has been the mode of operations of the Putin-backed separatists. But eventual, they will strikeout again to swallow more of Ukraine's territory.

However, logic suggests that the Putin-backed fighters will stay put for a while - long enough, to allow Putin to dupe some in Europe into believing that he wants peace. A peace, so that they may accept his invitations, to celebrations of the 70th anniversary of WWII in Moscow. After such celebrations, Ukraine, once again, will become game to Putin's ambitions to empire building.

That the EU failed to increase sanctions on Russia today amounts simply to a denial of a forthcoming inevitable action that will be needed to clip Russian aggression in the not too distant future. Furthermore, Europe could soon realize that sanctions are not sufficient within their scope to render Putin impotent to destabilizing the continent.