The EU countries are unlikely to give up new sanctions against Russia in the near future and still remain united in their vision of the fight against the Putin regime. However, there are some politicians who, over time, may change their attitude towards Moscow to a more loyal one due to the threat of an energy crisis caused by a reduction in Russian gas supplies.. Reported by the Financial Times.

According to the publication, most European leaders are still willing to suffer economic damage due to Russia's hybrid war with Ukraine and the European Union, because they believe that sanctions have significantly shaken the Kremlin's position.. The same opinion is shared by experts from Yale University.. In their opinion, the war and restrictions on the part of the collective West “made the Russian economy limp catastrophically”.

“Looking ahead, there is no way out of the economic abyss for Russia as long as the allied countries remain the only ones in maintaining and increasing sanctions pressure,” the study by a group of specialists says..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Nevertheless, the Financial Times notes that some political forces and individual statesmen in the ruling circles of the EU member states may, over time, begin to treat Russia more loyally.. Journalists of the publication believe that high inflation rates, a sharp increase in the cost of living in the EU and proposals to reduce energy consumption threaten to turn into a rejection of the tough anti-Russian position of the member countries of the community. Although many Western politicians see a significant effect of EU sanctions on the Russian economy, a number of EU states are concerned that this policy costs them dearly and hits the pockets of their own citizens..

FT considers Germany and Italy the most inclined to future cooperation with the Russians. The German government has repeatedly expressed the opinion that sanctions against the Russian Federation are not worth the consequences to which the country's economy is subjected.. The most categorical in this regard are representatives of the Christian Democratic Union, who call for softening relations with the Kremlin and continuing to buy Russian gas..

As for Italy, after the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, there is a risk of creating a coalition of the “right”, which will include the parties of longtime Putin supporters Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini. It may also change the position of the Apennines in relation to the generally accepted EU policy..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Recall that on the eve of the EU leaders signed an agreement to reduce gas consumption by 15% in order to avoid an energy crisis caused by blackmailing Russia. Only Hungary, "