Estonian MEP: Europe looking for ways to reverse sanctions on Russia

RIGA - Europe is looking for ways to reverse its sanctions on Russia, Yana Toom, the member of the European Parliament from Estonia's ruling Center Party, said in an interview with LETA. 

"Sanctions – and the history of the past 100 years when such sanctions were imposed 13 times proves it – do not provide the expected results. If they do not work instantly they will not start working ever. It is possible to live under sanctions for decades. But our economies are really suffering from the sanctions. In fact, walking and talking to people in the European Parliament corridors I have realized that ways are being sought to reverse these sanctions. The big question is – how to back off and preserve your dignity? And this is not at all easy and hampers constructive dialogue," the Estonian MEP said. 

Toom said that ordinary Russian citizens do not feel the sanctions. "Besides, if we look at this issue from the perspective of communication, many domestic issues in Russia can be written down to the 'evil' Europe, which has imposed the sanctions. We have clearly lost the media war," Toom said.   

"I have been against the sanctions all along. Sanctions are a cheap alternative to war that gives us nothing. I have been hearing a lot about enemies lately. The list includes Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, Islamic State. I say – don't we have too many enemies? Perhaps it will suffice to have just one, the main enemy?" the Estonian politician said. 

Toom also voted against the European Parliament's resolution denouncing Russian propaganda, because the "resolution was drawn up based on the analysis of content from some anonymous people, some Russia media." "As a reader, I would like to know who wrote this text. I do not like anonymity."

Asked about the European Union's (EU) possibilities to influence the situation in eastern Ukraine, Toom said that she did not see any EU influence on international affairs and global developments at all.

"Where I see an unpleasant connection – the escalation in Donbass coincided with Trump's so-called attempts to lift the sanctions. I do not believe in coincidences. I have read the Minsk agreements and I know that the official Kiev does not like them. I believe that it is not fair to blame Russia for the violation of the Minsk agreements. Resistance to these agreements comes from Kiev, but we here do not want to talk about it," the Estonian MEP said.