Europe's weak response to Russian aggression

Gavin Hewitt, BBC:

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Privately the Americans say EU sanctions "are very limited and symbolic". But at their summit in Brussels last week the Europeans pledged to move to some form of economic sanctions if there was an escalation of Russian military action. 

They have powerful tools to hurt Russia, but using them almost certainly will hurt Europe's economies as well.

Europe's leaders believe their asset freezes and travel bans against 33 Russian and Crimean officials have sent a powerful message. 

European officials last week insisted that the measures announced so far are having an impact. But President Putin scoffed at the moves. Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK, Volodymyr Khandogiy, said that Europe had not done enough to help Ukraine. "The US," he went on to say, "is more resolute in their actions and words". 

What the Americans have done is to impose sanctions on some of the Russian president's inner circle and they have moved against Bank Rossiya - one of the Kremlin's favourite banks. 

But powerful Russians spend much more time in Europe than in America. It is where they invest their funds, where they buy their football clubs, where they party and where often they choose to educate their children. Europe's leaders, if they chose, could still hurt those closest to President Putin, but so far they have been very cautious. 

Other moves are no more than gestures: ending bilateral Russia-EU summits; declaring the G8 has been replaced by a G7 without Russia. 

What is unclear is what precisely would trigger the Europeans moving to economic sanctions and whether it would be possible to maintain European unity. And without unanimity there can be no economic sanctions.
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They do not appear to be willing to do what is necessary to defend themselves and their neighbors from Russian aggression and this just invites more aggression.  Russia is now poised to take more of Ukraine as well as other former republics of the old Soviet empire.   The Americans have also been reluctant to make moves to help Euroipe deal with an energy crisis that will follow more sanctions.  The Big Green lobby is aiding and abetting Russian aggression by opposing exports of LNG to Europe.  This is nuts on stilts.  Opposing the exports does not mean that less gas will be burned.  It is an absurd proposition to even suggest it.