EU Sanctions on Russia Extended

If you have been keeping up with the drama in the east of Ukraine, you know there has been a power struggle there since the secession of Crimea from the Ukraine in 2014. This power struggle emerged shortly after Ukraine kicked all Russian politicians out of the country and Russia decided to embrace the Crimea.

The lands of the Crimea has seen much conflict in its' history and had a somewhat peaceful stretch after Russia gifted the lands to Ukraine during the time of the Soviet Union. However, with the ousting of the Russian politicians and the heavy Russian population in the Crimea, it was reported that the people wanted to join Russia. Ever since then, there has been much violence in the southeastern Ukraine between Kiev and Donbas with party leaders facing off against their government with arms. During this conflict, there has been more than 10,000 deaths and many injuries.

Because of the expanding violence and what the EU believes is Russia's involvement, the EU decided to enforce travel bans and asset freezes on Russian individuals and entities. But the sanctions do not only hurt those in Russia.

The chairman of the Duma committee on international affairs, Leonid Slutsky said that, "Europe losses have become almost more than the loss of Russia." This could be him piggy-backing off of what Russian presidnt Putin said earlier when he stated that, Russia had lost "somewhere 50-52 billion dollars, and those countries that have imposed sanctions, lost $ 100 billion."

The sanctions imposed apply to EU citizens and companies. The sanctions ban the import of products from the Crimea and Sevastopol and stop any cruise ships from docking in the area, any European investments, and any reals estate purchases. The bans also halts the export on some goods and technologies that could be used in the nonrenewable energy sector, transportation and telecommunication. Sanctions also include an arms export ban, limited access to finances for Russian banks and travel bans for over 150 individuals.

Putin was quoted saying that he does not believe that the sanctions are not "legitimate" and that "they are hurting not only us but also the countries that adopted them." The sanctions were first imposed in March of 2014 for misappropriation of Ukrainian State funds, and since then have been extended numerous times. The most recent extension has made the sanctions active until June 23, 2018. The sanctions were extended because Russia did not meet expectations of the Minsk II agreement. However, Russia says that it is not a signatory to Minsk. Russia believes it is only a guarantor like France and Germany and is not an active party like Kiev and Donbas. Russia continues to state that it is not a party in the Minsk agreements or any internal Ukrainian problems.

While Russia considers Ukraine to be in it's sphere of influence it seems that the West is determined to make Ukraine part of it's sphere. Despite the turmoil in the Ukraine plans for free trade and visa-free travel between the Ukraine and the EU has been instituted earlier this month were reaffirmed. The constant struggle with the West, the Ukraine and Russia has surely made some counties show their hands a bit during negotiations and true colors are beginning to be shown. What do you think about the continuous conflict?

Do you think that the sanctions on Russia being extended is warranted, or are they just another way of restricting Russian involvement?

Who are the real "bad guys" in this conflict and who are the sanctions hurting the most in their current forms?

Is Russia an active party in the Minsk II agreement? Did Russia comply with the Minsk II agreements?

Should Russia help liberate those who consider themselves Russian in a foreign land?

I look forward to reading your comments and reading everyone's perspectives!