Austria says more sanctions on Russia would inflame tensions

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Additional sanctions against Russia would inflame tensions between Moscow and Kiev, Austria's chancellor said on Wednesday, urging de-escalation of the conflict instead.

"I would fundamentally support what the German foreign minister (Frank-Walter) Steinmeier made clear again today: that conflict between Russia and Ukraine should not be inflamed by additional sanctions, but on the contrary, that de-escalation is what is required," Werner Faymann told reporters after the Austrian government's weekly cabinet meeting.

"I support that 100 percent."

He added that the Austrian central bank and finance ministry were working on a factual assessment of the potential consequences of sanctions scenarios posed by the European Union.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/23/us-ukraine-crisis-austria-idUSBREA3M0JS20140423

[Adrahil]

1. Russia could de-escalate this instantly by withdrawing troops and "protesters" NT

[dipsydoodle]

2. Yes but the actual subject is sanctions.

I think it would be fair to say that Austria can now be added to the list to date of EU countries opposed to economic sanctions against Russia : Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus ,Hungary, Bulgaria, and Latvia.

Chances of the EU imposing economic sanctions is somewhat less than nil given that any proposal would require the consent of ALL 28 EU member states.

[Duckhunter935]

4. so once again

Russia gets away with invading another sovereign country and taking over parts of it with no cost. This will continue in East Ukraine. Kiev has already agreed to a majority of the Easts requests and new elections happen next month. The other side not so much and they will keep going if there is no price to pay for aggression.

[amandabeech]

20. I'm afraid that you are right.

There was an article last week in "Good Reads" discussing the possibility that Putin has narcissistic personality disorder. Although many leaders have narcissistic tendencies, Putin may be severely affected. For comparison, most stalkers have that disorder. They go through life wrecking havoc everywhere they go, and it is almost impossible to stop them. God help us.

[Adrahil]

6. Peace in our time!!!

Appeasement never works.

[davidpdx]

8. Yep, look how well that worked out when Hitler pulled that crap

After he captures part or all of Ukraine maybe he'll set his sights on a NATO country.

The big bad bully NATO interfering in "internal" matters (which is how it will be framed) instead of allowing freedom and democracy via Russian control.

Insert picture of Putin on a horse

[Adrahil]

9. Putin, like any bully, will see just how far he can go.

If we let him go too far now, it's going to wind up meaning a lot of dead people later.

I doubt we can stop him from taking Eastern Ukraine (and essentially destroying Ukraine in revenge for defying him), but we can make it HURT.

[davidpdx]

10. I really do wonder how far he will take it

I agree, there is only so much we can do and most of it is going to be sanctions. There are other measures besides the sanctions and I think that's what most people are missing from the conversation about this. The question is will we use them and at what point. The EU can duck out of sanction is they want, but they may pay for it later when one of their own countries has a "Russian uprising" all of a sudden.

It seems like many are suddenly floating this notion that all of Eastern Europe should be neutral. Most of the countries have in fact already decided they want to join the EU.

[pampango]

15. Both sides need to deescalate the situation - not just one side or the other. Neither side can solve

this if the other side does not cooperate. Each side wants the other to unilaterally capitulate. Wishing for that to happen is a poor strategy for resolving this situation.

[tavernier]

3. Are any agencies looking into exploding cigars

for Mr. Putin?

Yeah, ok, I know, I know. Alert alert. No threats of violence allowed.

Sigh. Packing my bags once again.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Amongst other chestnuts from the past

[EX500rider]

18. No, but there may be some polonium poisoning in the future for some Ukrainian politicians.

[bemildred]

7. Maybe we can fracture the EU too, not just Ukraine and NATO. nt

[Jesus Malverde]

11. "inflame tensions"

Isn't that the whole point?

[Ghost Dog]

12. NATO has been creeping up on Russia, and the USA has been encircling

central Eurasia and other areas for many years, in some cases explicitly against Treaty commitments.

Who is the aggressor, and who is seeking to adopt defensive positions?

[Purveyor]

13. ^^this^^ eom

[Jesus Malverde]

14. Expanding NATO Into formerly Warsaw pact nations

Throwing out the ABM treaty, all actions of an aggressive empire.

The irony of NATO's expansion into Poland, was turning it into torture central for the war on terror. Whatever talk there is about freedom and self determination goes into the toilet.

[1000words]

16. Some irony for the global corporatists

Essentially, they are sanctioning themselves.

[pampango]

17. "Far-right in Austria: flirting with Putin" Several far-right politicians went to observe the Crimea

(a)mong those that went were politicians from far-right or populist parties in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France and Hungary.

Far-right parties are set to do well in next month’s elections to the European Parliament, a fact that has thrown a spotlight on their links with the Kremlin. A recent study by the Budapest-based Political Capital Institute documents the support that far-right parties in the EU have given to Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly throughout the Ukraine crisis. These parties repeated the Kremlin’s line that it is the EU and the West, rather than Russia, which are provoking tension and fueling violence in the Eastern European country.

Several far-right politicians went to observe the Crimea referendum on re-joining Russia, a vote they said was free and fair although it was denounced as illegitimate by most Western leaders. Among those that went were politicians from far-right or populist parties in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France and Hungary.

Hungary’s Jobbik and Greece’s Golden Dawn are both invited to the Russian National Forum organised by a group with close ties to Putin to be held later this year. Admiration for Putin also extends to Europe’s softer right-wing. Nigel Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party, has openly backed Putin as a skillful "operator".

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123887

[EX500rider]

19. Shhh, all the "fascists" are apparently in the new Ukrainian govt, Russia is a liberal paradise!

[amandabeech]

21. Putin's a hero over in Freeperland, too.

They like strong, tough guys who beat up on Obama, figuratively that is.