- Germany and Italy among countries in the EU understood to be ‘prioritising own economies’ over sanctionsÂ
- It comes as countries on border with Ukraine and Russia, including Poland, are pushing for more restrictions
- Internal struggle is ensuing inside the EU between ‘three sides’ with differing viewpoints, diplomats have said
- ‘Sanctionistas’ and ‘Contras’ disagree over sanctions, with the remaining countries some stuck in middle
Germany and Italy are among nations trying to block more Russian sanctions in a bid to protect their own economies, despite pressure from Poland and the Baltic states that are right on Putin’s doorstep.
The Russian President yesterday claimed Western ‘attempts to have global dominance’ are coming to an end as he slammed sanctions imposed because the EU ‘doesn’t want a strong and sovereign Russia’.
But the bloc is now beginning to split into ‘three sides’ as Germany – with support from Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece – is accused of ‘openly putting the brakes on’ sanctions amid concern about the impact on its own economy.
