Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that sanctions applied by us against Russia “would inevitably hit the United States like a boomerang.” But will they, or will they to any serious degree? Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski doesn’t think so. Sikorski had some thoughts on the matter in Monday’s Spiegel International Online.
SPIEGEL: The European Union imposed very mild sanctions against Russia on Thursday. Isn’t it true that Putin, with his gas exports, has far more effective means for countering that pressure?
Sikorski: Only about 30% of the natural gas in the EU originates from Russia. Norway is a larger supplier. I do not believe Russia can use it to put us under pressure. Moscow needs our money.
And
SPIEGEL: Why are the Poles so highly engaged in this conflict?
Sikorski: The Ukrainians are our neighbors. They are fighting for the same things we did back in 1989 – for a country that is more democratic, less corrupt and is European.
On what, then, is President Barack Obama waiting? What is it of a Russian counterstroke that he fears so?