It seemed that Western sanctions against Russia were about to be ripped off. Against them were business interests, and views on Moscow in the EU countries were any, but not the same.

Skeptics were convinced that the West's interest in Ukraine is not great, but while geopolitical significance of Ukraine for Russia is very high. Someone expected that Moscow would try to wait for the fatigue of Washington and Brussels.

This is on the pages of the newspaper loyal to the Republican Party of the Wall Street Journal wrote a former official of the US State Department Edward Fishman.

He points out that nothing of this happened. Sanctions are in effect three years after the West introduced them, and two months after the inauguration of Donald Trump. In addition, there is little indication of the possibility of changing this situation.

"As one of the participants in the process of creating sanctions, I'm not surprised that they lasted so long. We have developed them to be sustainable, so that they create significant pressure on Russia and at the same time do not threaten the onset of an economic crisis in the short term, and also not to be a big burden for the US and Europe. Good communication has allowed to avoid small conflicts in views between Washington and European capitals, thereby preserving the transatlantic unity, "writes Fishman.

Also, in his opinion, sanctions have been operating for so long thanks to solidarity in the EU and the lack of much harm from them for Europeans and Americans.

He also notes that the US and the EU have done right that they have decided on clear conditions for their abolition, tied it to the implementation of the Minsk agreements by Russia.

"The irony is that the EU, which so often criticized for" softness "towards Russia, has become a bastion of the West. Even German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who criticized the sanctions, is now urging Washington to stand firm on its own, "remarks the former diplomat.

In his view, the EU's unity in the issue of sanctions demonstrates that the union is not as weak as it is sometimes called.