EU policy on sanctions and energy clearer after summit
The RBK business daily sums up the outcomes of last week’s EU summit in Brussels. As was expected, the EU has opted to link its sanctions against Russia to the implementation of the Minsk peace agreements signed on Feb. 12, aimed at a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. A separate provision of the resolution concerns the issue of Crimea. German Chancellor Angela Merkel explained that the sanctions introduced over the takeover of Crimea can be lifted only after “the annexation of the peninsula has been reversed,” the paper notes.
Is this a fool’s errand for Chancellor Merkel to be making these conditional demands? Putin continues his aggressions and even Denmark is in his sights. Putin often includes nuclear weapons in his comments in recent months.
NATO has said the missile shield is not directed against Russia but rather an attack from a country like Iran.
Denmark said in August it would add a radar capability on some warships for the missile shield, in which Poland and Romania are playing a large role.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said such statements by Vanin “do not inspire confidence or contribute to…peace or stability.”
Vanin added that Russia has missiles that will be able to penetrate the proposed missile shield.
Beyond Denmark there are other nations that Putin is issuing threats using nuclear weapons.
BUCHAREST, Romania — Britain’s defense secretary says NATO members Romania and Britain will not be intimidated by threats against members of the military alliance.
“Neither Romania nor Britain will be intimidated by threats to its alliance or its members,” Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Monday during a one-day visit.
His remarks came days after Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Mikhail Vanin, said in a published report that Danish warships could become targets for Russian nuclear missiles if the Danes join the alliance’s missile defense system. Bases are planned in the southern Romanian town of Deveselu and in Poland.
“I do not think Danes fully understand the consequences of what happens if Denmark joins the U.S.-led missile defense. If this happens, Danish warships become targets for Russian nuclear missiles,” Vanin was quoted as saying by the newspaper Jyllands-Posten on Saturday.
Should Danes join “we risk considering each other as enemies,” he added.
NATO decided in January to set up command-and-control centers in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria by the end of 2016 in response to challenges from Russia and Islamic extremists and to reassure eastern partners.
Romania will also host a multinational division headquarters for the southeast and Poland will have a similar one for the northeast. In an emergency, the centers would help speed up the arrival of the new quick-reaction force.
*** When it comes to the United States, it appears some proactive measures are being taken as well given the Russian threat.
– The Air Force says an unarmed Minuteman 3 missile was launched from California in a test of the intercontinental ballistic missile system.
The missile lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 3:36 a.m. Monday.
Col. Keith Balts says the test will provide accuracy and reliability data for current and future modifications of the Minuteman system.
The missile used in the test was brought from F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
