Russia slams extension of European sanctions!

MOSCOW, Russia (PNN) - June 22, 2015 - Over the past several months, tensions between Russia and the West have escalated meaningfully. While it’s certainly true that, since Crimea, Fascist Police States of Amerika-Russia relations have deteriorated steadily, recent events suggest the situation may come to a head more quickly than either side cares to admit.

Ukraine has seen its worst outbreak of violence since February’s ceasefire this month, with both sides blaming the other for the intensification of hostilities. Meanwhile, the FPSA has dusted off the Cold War playbook, suggesting heavy weapons may be stored permanently in Eastern Europe to ensure NATO forces can deploy quickly in the face of Russian aggression.

Last week, Belgium, Austria and France froze Russian state assets in an attempt to enforce an effectively unenforceable ECHR decision stemming from the long-running Yukos debacle, while Germany, Norway, The Czech Republic and The Netherlands rehearsed a Ukraine siege in Poland.

Today, Europe extended economic sanctions against Moscow for another six months, or until the Kremlin agrees to abide by the terms of the Minsk agreement that Europe, on the word of Kiev, assumes Moscow is violating

Moscow says the extension proves the West has no real interest in de-escalation.

"Even partial softening of the sanctions would have created a positive dynamic," said Alexei Pushkov, the head of the Russian Duma's international relations committee. "Even though the prolongation of the sanctions does not immediately sharply worsen the situation - it remains as it was - it creates a negative tone for at least another half year in the relations between Russia and the European Union."

A statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it was “very disappointed” that the EU sided with the “Russophobic lobby, which push the decision to extend the illegal restrictions.”

“The Amerikans declare their interest in the provision of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. But they have absolutely no interest in Ukraine. They are interested in Russia,” said Nikolai Patrushev, chair of the Russian Security Council and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The (FPSA) wants Russia to cease to exist as a country,” added Patrushev, explaining that the FPSA wanted to keep Russia from using its huge resources how it sees fit.

Of course, Russia still has considerable international pull thanks to its energy exports.

Last week, Gazprom inked a new deal with Shell (among others) to double the capacity of the Nord line, which allows Russian gas to flow to Europe without passing through Ukraine.

Additionally, Gazprom is now settling gas and oil exports to China in yuan, marking the two countries’ pushes to de-dollarize the global energy trade at a time when low oil prices are already threatening to drive the petrodollar system into extinction.

Against this backdrop, FPSA Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is in Europe drumming up military support and tossing around the nuclear war rhetoric.

The Fascist Police States of Amerika and its allies won't let Russia "drag us back to the past", said Carter in an address in Berlin on Monday, as he accused Moscow of trying to re-create a Soviet-era sphere of influence.

Russia's activities in Ukraine have put NATO allies in eastern Europe on edge and triggered a series of military moves by the NATO alliance, including an acceleration of exercises and the creation of a NATO rapid response force.

Carter, who will view components of that NATO force later on Monday, said the alliance would keep the door open to an improved relationship with Russia but said flatly, "It's up to the Kremlin to decide."

"We do not seek a cold, let alone a hot war with Russia. We do not seek to make Russia an enemy," Carter said. "But make no mistake: we will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us all."

Carter said on Sunday the United States and NATO were preparing militarily for the prospect that their rift with Russia could even outlast President Vladimir Putin.

In sum, the FPSA, EU and NATO are going to extend economic sanctions and persist with war games, snap drills and weapons deployment until such a time as Russia backs out of Ukraine altogether, something that seems unlikely at best. So unless the FPSA is willing to concede to Russia effectively redrawing the Russian border with Ukraine, one has to wonder how long it will be before the new Cold War turns hot.