LONDON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd August, 2018) Europe does not appear interested in more sanctions on Russia and is unlikely to follow the example of the United Kingdom if London toughens restrictions, Nicholas Cobb, chairman of the Westminster Russia Forum non-profit organization told Sputnik.
Earlier on Tuesday at an event for the US Institute for Peace, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt called on the European Union to ensure its sanctions against Russia were "comprehensive" and to "stand shoulder to shoulder with the US."
"Whilst it is positive that the Foreign Secretary calls for Europe-wide engagement with Moscow, it seems a little odd given the call for fresh sanctions - there seems to be little appetite outside of London and Washington for fresh sanctions. Whilst it is expected that whatever sanctions the UK imposes will mirror US sanctions, there is unlikely to be a wider take-up of fresh sanctions against Moscow from other European states," Cobb said.
US Vice President Mike Pence backed Hunt's call for EU solidarity, just as the first portion of the latest US sanctions on Russia are about to take effect on Wednesday. The new measures were introduced over Moscow's alleged role in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom. Russia had strongly denied all accusations of its involvement in the poisoning of Skripal.
Other European states have been more cautious about adding new sanctions. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in late July that Rome was ready for a dialogue with Moscow, although it would be impossible to lift sanctions right away.
Additionally, the United States is considering sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, a joint venture of Russian energy giant Gazprom and France's Engie, Austrias OMV AG, UK-Denmarks Royal Dutch Shell, and Germany's Uniper and Wintershall. In the past, the possibility of Washington imposing restrictions on the companies involved in the project drew criticism from Austria and Germany.
