US sanctions hurt Europe more than Russia: Analyst

US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and her ilk are delusional and in denial about the power of their never ending sanctions, Boston based political analyst says, adding sanctions against Russia are hurting Europe more than they are hurting Moscow.

Daniel Patrick Welch, an activist and outspoken critic of US foreign policy, made the remarks during a phone interview with Press TV on Sunday while commenting on a statement by Nuland.

On Saturday, she warned Russia again that sanctions against the country will remain in place until peace accords are fully implemented in Ukraine. “We are clear that until Minsk is completed, sanctions will not be lifted."

“If and when Minsk is fully implemented, including return of Ukraine’s sovereignty to its border, we can begin to roll back some sanctions, but if Minsk is further violated there will be more,” she told Yalta European Strategy conference.

At a summit in Minsk, Belarus on February 11, 2015, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France agreed to a package of measures to alleviate the ongoing conflict in the eastern region of Ukraine.

Vicky 'Cookies' Nuland

“Wow! Vicky "Cookies" Nuland! It’s amazing to hear her speak. The arrogance and the hypocrisy that drips from the mouths of US officials is truly astounding,” Welch said.

“Here they are after having fomented a coup in Ukraine, and using neo-Nazi thugs as the muscle, the violence with which to bring the coup about,” he stated.

Ties between Washington and Moscow have reached an all-time low over the crisis in Ukraine, which began after pro-Western forces ousted the country’s president, Viktor Yanukovych, in February 2014.

The US accuses Russia of destabilizing Ukraine by supporting pro-Russia forces in the eastern regions. The Kremlin, however, denies the allegations.  

“And then they have the gall to keep on blaming Russia, over and over and over again. They will actually never put the narrative right side up,” Welch said.

“And the thing about the echo chamber of the Western media is that they will keep on repeating the same tired line, and most people in the so-called Western democracies will accept it, because they don’t have access to a different narrative, and then to bring Minsk into the deal,” he added.

“Kiev is the one that has been constantly violating the ceasefire and shelling homes with babies and orphans and hospitals. It is completely ridiculous,” the analyst noted.

“The other thing is that there is self-delusion involved. They keep saying like a schoolmarm, ‘if you don’t do this, I am gonna slap your wrist, I am gonna take away your recess, I am gonna give you sanctions, I am gonna…’”

Russian 'proxies' in Ukraine

Nuland said Russia and “its proxies” in Ukraine’s two eastern regions are “still a great threat” and must observe the truce accords signed in Minsk.

She threatened that Washington will push the European Union to increase sanctions as well. “We need to use the carrot of sanctions rollback and stick of further sanctions.”

“The sanctions are hurting Western Europe more than they are hurting Russia which is why the Germans are anxious about the whole deal. They need Russia as a trading power, and they can’t go against their US puppet master,” said Welch said.

Why Russia helps Syria 

“And then… they mention Syria too. Why not bring Syria into it, because they started this death squad proxy war against the Syrian government and against the Syrian people.  This army of imported terrorists and head-chopping whack jobs that are funded through the [Persian] Gulf monarchies -- Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey is helping on that,” he pointed out.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. The United States and its regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside the country. According to the United Nations, more than 230,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the turmoil.

“They try to spin that narrative on its head. And they always say that Russia had better not do that. What does Russia want to do? Russia wants to help the Syrian government fight ISIS," Welch said, referring to the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group.

"The Syrian Arab Army is the only serious force that has taken on ISIS and has had success,” the political commentator stated. 

“And to say that you are a fighting terrorist threat basically that you have concocted in someone else’s territory without their permission, without coordinating with them, is just another form of colonialism and invasion,” Welch emphasized. 

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