EU Sanctions against Russia
A Preliminary Assessment
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
In response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the EU adopted three packages of sanctions. It suspended negotiations and meetings with Russia’s government, imposed entry bans and froze the bank accounts of individuals, and ordered sectoral economic sanctions. The decision required unanimity. Despite political differences over Russia policy, unity on the necessity of sanctions holds sway among the EU member states. But there is disagreement over the core question of whether the sanctions have been successful: if one judges success solely on the basis of the Crimea’s status under international law and Moscow’s foreign policy behaviour, then sanctions have fallen short of the mark.
(Osteuropa, 10-12/2021, pp. 105–114)