“It costs us Europeans very expensive”: Macron pointed to the ineffectiveness of EU sanctions against Russia

Anti-Russian sanctions did not bring any positive effect to Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron noted during the Munich Security Conference.

“We have multiplied frozen conflicts, mistrust, sanctions that have not changed anything in Russia at all. I don’t offer to remove them at all, I’m just stating ... Our sanctions and counter-sanctions cost us Europeans very much, almost more, than Russians, ”said Macron.

Recall that the European Union introduced a sanctions regime against Russia in the spring and summer of 2014. Restrictive measures apply in three independent areas: sectoral (extended until July 31, 2020) and personal (effective until March 15, 2020), as well as restrictions against Crimea and Sevastopol (extended until June 23, 2020). As a response, Moscow imposed a food embargo that expires on December 31, 2020. However, Vladimir Putin has repeatedly noted that the Russian side will abandon restrictions if the EU refuses its own restrictions. The President of the Russian Federation also pointed out that Moscow, due to sanctions, received less than $ 50 billion, and the European Union lost $ 240 billion.

According to Emanuel Macron, Russia cannot be blocked and ignored, since it is part of Europe and has a permanent membership in the UN Security Council. In this regard, the French leader pointed out the need for a trusting relationship.

“The strategic dialogue with Russia should be based on the ability to regulate frozen conflicts, the ability to discuss cybersecurity, space, that is, this security architecture,” the French president explained.

On January 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a speech at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in Israel, proposed holding a summit of the leaders of the Russian Federation, the USA, China, France, and the United Kingdom, because these five powers "have a special responsibility for preserving civilization."

Macron also said that in the future Moscow will allegedly continue its "attempts at destabilization." At the same time, he emphasized that one should not forget about other players.

“You need to be careful, because there is not only Russia, there are many other countries,” he said.

"Disappointment is gradually giving way to a sense of hope and change."

This is not the first time Emmanuel Macron has made a statement that is different from the common NATO and EU policies towards Russia, said Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, RT.

“Until now, the Germans have taken the position of European leader. Now it’s obvious that that policy of NATO and the EU has exhausted itself. Six years of rather severe sanctions, which aimed at forcing Russia to change its policy in a global context, did not lead to anything. Russia maintains its position. Moreover, this position is becoming more and more popular. And Macron reacts to it. I do not think that his position should be interpreted as some kind of agreement with the way Russia is positioning itself. We remain rivals rather than allies in a geopolitical context. But a sense of reality, a sense of common sense, obviously, begins to return to French politicians faster than to many others, ”said Kosachev.

According to the senator, Macron’s political position is more encouraging than disappointing.

“Disappointment is the term that we are used to apply to European politics in the Russian direction. Now it is gradually giving way to a sense of hope and change in our relations, in the fact that sooner or later we will resume cooperation on building a united Europe, not divided by new borders, ”he stated.

In turn, HSE professor Oleg Matveychev, political scientist at the HSE, also noted that this is not the first time that the French leader has made statements that differ in their independent position, in particular regarding the need for an equivalent dialogue with Russia.

“Macron is the flagship of Europe in its emancipation from American influence. The Germans demonstrate this emancipation in practice. In the issue of Nord Stream 2, they did not succumb to blackmail by the United States. France is still speaking in words. Macron's statements arise at the time of exacerbation of a conflict. But so far there has not been any active participation, except for the meeting in the Norman format in Paris. In general, it is quite realistic that France will begin some decisive action, ”the political scientist added in an interview with RT.