Italy's Renzi Says Russian Sanctions To Be Reviewed Next Year
Italy says that European and other Western countries are likely to review their economic sanctions against Russia next year.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on December 16 that he would not prevent a further six-month extension of EU sanctions against Russia, due to expire on January 31.
The extension is expected to be approved by EU member countries later this week after opening discussion on them on December 17.
But Renzi added that he believes the sanctions will be reviewed or revised "in the coming months."
Italy has major trade ties with Russia and its economy has been severely damaged by the sanctions imposed on Moscow because of its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its support for separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Last week, Italy unexpectedly blocked an automatic rollover of the EU sanctions, saying the issue required further discussion.
Italy is reportedly upset by the demise of Russia's South Stream pipeline project that would have brought Russian natural gas to Austria and Italy for further distribution to Europe.
Based on reporting Reuters and AP
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
An excerpt:
President Putin attacked the Ukraine both physically and verbally for two years, but it turned out his propaganda did not work. For instance, hardly anyone believes that the Fascists govern in the Ukraine, as he stated. It also turned out the Ukrainians have not demanded to be joined to Russia. He did not even manage to persuade the Ukrainians living in territories occupied by pro-Russian rebels supported by Putin; therefore, Putin’s silence is a sort of late admission that the Novorossiya operation (as Putin called the southeast part of the Ukraine, which he believes historically belongs to Russia – editor’s note) failed.
An excerpt:
Everything about Nadiya Savchenko is a statement, the declaration of a fighter going to war: The strong posture of a trained soldier, the firm look in her piercing blue eyes, her comments, even her jokes. Savchenko, a national hero in her home country, an enemy and defendant in Russia, just keeps smiling, and thanks reporters and foreign diplomats for coming.