European officials will postpone consideration of the issue of extending restrictive measures against our country. The fact is that not all members of the association have developed their position on this issue. This became known on Monday, February 26. "Not today, because of the national procedure. There is no new date, "RIA Novosti quotes an unnamed source in the EU familiar with the situation.

The "national procedure" refers to the consideration of the issue of sanctions by the authorities of one or several countries that are members of the EU. The Continental Association takes foreign policy decisions, including imposing sanctions, unanimously. In some countries, before the announcement of a position, it is necessary to obtain the consent of the parliament or cabinet. Usually this is a purely formal procedure that does not affect the decision itself, but can delay the timing of its adoption. The fact that the issue of extending sanctions will be decided today, it became known last week. The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU countries at the headquarters in Brussels agreed on the extension of individual sanctions that expire on March 15. As before, they should automatically roll over for six months. The composition of the list will remain the same, only the data of some of its figurants will change. It was assumed that the restrictions would be prolonged without discussion, but now this question is "frozen" indefinitely. For the first time individual sanctions against people, whom the EU accused of undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, were introduced in March 2014. According to the latest version, the sanction list includes 150 individuals and 38 legal entities. In addition to Russians, it features citizens of Ukraine, as well as figures of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. About terms and conditions of possible cancellation of sanctions it is necessary to guess only. Restrictions on Russian citizens are introduced forever, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin expressed confidence. "Revival of the national consciousness of Russia usually leads to a rapid growth of physical strength. On the level of instinct in the West, this has never been liked by anyone. Sanctions are reactions of the old, material enemy to our reinforcement, and they will be lifted only if we again become weak, "said the official..

The experts agreed with this assessment. "Sanctions will always be. They will be used, but does not mean that they will act at any given moment. There is still diplomatic pressure, through international structures, military and military. Proceeding from the practice of Soviet-American relations, it is difficult to recall the time when the US did not resort to some form of pressure against the USSR, and then Russia, "the opinion of the director of the US Roosevelt Foundation at the Moscow State University Yuri Rogulev.

According to the political scientist, "Russia should strive to reduce the level of pressure, using foreign and diplomatic tools that do not exclude negotiations and resolution of contradictions".