Is There A Limit To European Union Sanctions Against Russia?

By Catherine Kent

Reuters reported on Monday, November 17, that the EU decided to freeze the assets and issue travel bans against more  Ukrainian separatists.  However, the EU declined to impose further sanctions against Russia. With the upsurge in violence in the Ukraine, and NATO’s assertions that Russia has recently sent tanks and troops to eastern Ukraine, the EU is still crafting an appropriate response. With sanctions already in place which have cut off Russia from much of the finance, energy, and defense markets, the EU is deeply divided as to whether they should impose more economic sanctions. Many of the EU member nations fear that further sanctions would harm their own economies. The issue of imposing more sanctions may be set aside until EU leaders meet in Brussels on December 18.