As usual, every European snaction (sic) has an equal and opposite Russian reaction. Here is how the Russian Foreign ministry responded to what van Rompuy announced earlier today would be a new round of Russian sanctions, which wil finally be enforced tomorrow. First from the Russian foreign ministry:
- BY PASSING NEW ANTI-RUSSIAN SANCTIONS, EU EFFECTIVELY MADE CHOICE AGAINST PEACE PROCESS IN UKRAINE - RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY'S STATEMENT
And from Russia's European ambassador:
- NEW EU SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA LEAVE RUSSIA NO OTHER CHOICE BUT
TO GO FOR CERTAIN COUNTER-MEASURES - RUSSIA'S PERMANENT REP TO THE EU
CHIZHOV - EU SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA DEVOID OF ELEMENTARY LOGIC, COMING SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH DE-ESCALATION OF UKRAINIAN CRISIS - RUSSIA'S AMBASSADOR TO EU CHIZHOV
Below is the official statement [5], Google-translated:
In connection with the statement of the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy from September 11 regarding the introduction of a new package of anti-Russian sanctions, we can state the following.
By taking this step, the EU has actually made a choice against the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian domestic crisis, whose support was expected of all responsible powers in Europe.
Today Brussels and heads of EU member states should give a clear answer to the citizens of the European Union why they put them at risk of confrontation, economic stagnation and the loss of jobs.
And the punchline:
Finally, give peace a chance.
So Obama channels Dubya and Putin channels John Lennon. The New Normal sure is strange.