West embargo on Russia to prove counterproductive: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed James Jatras, former US Senate foreign policy analyst in Washington, about Western leaders agreeing to extend sanctions against Moscow by six more months over the crisis in Ukraine.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Do you think the anti-Russia sanctions will help resolve the crisis in Ukraine or will the embargo make things more complicated?

Jatras: No I do not think they will do anything to help the situation in Ukraine. They are just as counterproductive as ever and I think the fact that the western powers are going to extend these sanctions, maybe for another six months, maybe longer, just shows how unserious some of the leadership of the western countries is and I am thinking primarily of Mr. Obama and Mrs. Merkel.

Here they are with the need to cooperate with Russia on fighting Daesh, that the sanctions in Ukraine have not done a thing to move that forward, yet they cannot admit they were wrong about their policy toward Ukraine nor can they admit that Russia is setting the pace of the campaign against Daesh in Syria.

Press TV: So you are talking about Daesh and we already know that Russia’s involvement in Syria is very costly. Why do you think the West is trying to weaken Russia’s economy while Moscow is spending a lot of money fighting the terrorists in Syria?

Jatras: Because of very, I would say, immature and arrogant outlook that some of these leaders have where they feel they can dictate to Russia even as they become more and more reliant upon Russia in fighting Daesh. They are like little children driving toy cars who still think they are steering the direction of events when in fact they are not. The fact is however I do not think these sanctions really hurt the Russians very much but it is hurting the Europeans economy who can ill afford this kind of ridiculous policy.

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