Growing Signs That Russian Sanctions May End In The Coming Year

Bloomberg: EU Fatigue Over Russia Sanctions Shows as Putin Reset Looms

* Leaders say no agreement to impose new penalties over Syria
* Existing sanctions over Ukraine rolled over for six months

European Union differences over Russia were exposed as leaders arrived for their last summit of the year, underlining the 28-nation bloc’s fatigue with a sanctions regime that is losing support globally.

Even as EU leaders agreed to roll over economic penalties imposed on Russia over Ukraine, they sent divergent signals on whether to widen sanctions against the Kremlin in response to Russia’s bombing of civilians in Syria.

The mixed messages underscored the shifting mood in Europe as well as in the U.S. in favor of resetting relations with President Vladimir Putin even as Russian forces are blamed for escalating a humanitarian crisis in the final assault on the Syrian city of Aleppo.

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WNU Editor: The expected next President of France has voiced his disapproval of Russian sanctions. President-elect Trump wants to reset Russian relations. EU leaders who pushed for sanctions against Russia when the Ukraine crisis exploded are now either gone or will soon be gone. The only leader left standing is German Chancellor Merkel, and her prospects of being re-elected next year rest on how serious the migrant crisis will be next year. My prediction .... sanctions against Russia will be partially lifted (or lifted entirely) by the end of 2017.