European Ethos: EU ready to retaliate if needed to US-Russia sanctions

The EU said Wednesday it was ready if needed to retaliate within days against new U.S. sanctions on Russia, but believes Washington wants to spare European energy firms from any fallout.


U.S. President Donald Trump reluctantly signed off on the new sanctions against Russia Wednesday, bowing to domestic pressure and holding off on efforts to improve ties with Moscow.

"In the wake of Donald Trump signing off on stricter U.S. sanctions against Russia, the Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed his satisfaction, in principle, over the softening of the bill after the EU had expressed its concerns," said the commission.

"Moreover, U.S. Congress has now also committed that sanctions will only be applied after the country's allies are consulted. And I do believe we are still allies of the US," Juncker was quoted as saying in the statement.

However, he warned Brussels was ready to retaliate if the sanctions in the end hurt EU energy firms.
  [dailystar.com.lb/AFP]
2/8/17