EU Backs Down on Russia Sanctions Threat

EU leaders have voiced wariness that Russia is seeking to weaken the bloc, according to EU President Donald Tusk. However, an EU plan to threaten Russia with sanctions for its part in attacks on Aleppo was put on hold, DW reported. EU leaders rowed back from explicitly threatening Russia with sanctions on Friday, but said they would consider “all available options,” if the bombing of Aleppo continues. EU President Donald Tusk said that leaders listed Russian “airspace violations, disinformation campaigns, cyber-attacks, interference in political processes in the Balkans and beyond” among the threats posed. “Given these examples, it is clear that Russia’s strategy is to weaken the EU,” Tusk said after the summit meeting in Brussels ended on Friday morning. “We have a sober assessment of reality and no illusions. Increasing tensions with Russia is not our aim, we are simply reacting to steps taken by Russia.”