Inflicting the Pain of Censure

"This is no longer about a war somewhere far away. If they don't impose tougher sanctions, there will be a big question over the European Union's credibility."
"This is the only way Russia will draw back. When businesses and oligarchs feel the economic pain, they will start questioning Putin's policies."
Amanda Paul, analyst, European Policy Center, Brussels

This, July 16, 2014, file photo shows Russia's President Vladimir Putin as he arrives for an official group photo during the BRICS summit at the Itamaraty palace, in Brasilia, Brazil. Months after Russia annexed Crimea and stepped up support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, Europe and the U.S. are still searching for an effective way to persuade Putin to change course. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File )The Associated Press

The United States is ramping up the pressure on Moscow. Not only by the release of satellite images showing rockets fired from Russia into eastern Ukraine, and heavy artillery crossing the border into the hands of the ethnic Russian rebels along with Pentagon claims that heavy-calibre artillery systems movement across the border into Ukraine is "imminent", but another accusation as well. Perhaps a desperate move in view of the inescapable fact that Vladimir Putin remains unmoved by sanctions.

Now comes word that Washington has informed President Putin of their findings in a letter dispatched to him on Monday, that the Russian test of a ground-launched cruise missile was in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty banning medium-range missiles, defined as ground-launched ballistic (cruise missiles) capable of flying 300 to 3,400 miles signed by Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev at the end of the Cold War.

The latest version of a Cold War between the former antagonists transforming the latter-day arms-length warming-up relationship between the two former super-powers, to bring pressure on the Kremlin and Mr. Putin in the wake of the SAM-missile attack on the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet may come as a surprise to those who have recognized signs of weakening resolve on the part of both the U.S. and the E.U. to impose harder-hitting sanctions on Russia as a sign of their concern over Russia's and Mr. Putin's growing belligerence on the world scene.

Now, finally, it appears that the European Union and the United States between them have reached a sanctions agreement they state will have deep-biting powers. As a disciplinary measure tossing Russia out of the Group of Eight bloc of leading industrialized nations only seemed to firm up Mr. Putin's resolve to continue on his aggression trajectory. All the more so when NATO, which had drawn closer in a comradely manner, now drew itself to its full height of condemnation of Moscow and Mr. Putin.

Only to have the isolation diminished when President Putin was invited to attend ceremonies alongside western leaders marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day in France. France, Germany and other EU countries, including the Netherlands, seemed more anxious to mollify an estranged Putin than isolate him, in view of their trade ties and gas dependence. And in France's case the sale of two nuclear-powered helicopter carrier vessels. And it was clear that Russia's economy still hadn't been imperilled to the extent of evincing concern on Mr. Putin's part.

His response was for Russia to become more heavily involved in the BRICS economic/political union alongside Brazil, India, China and South Africa. None of the BRICS nations have yet an axe to grind with Mr. Putin. Additional EU travel bans and asset freezes imposed on Friday began to demonstrate that the wavering resolve has renewed itself toward delivering a few more bouts of financial pain to Russia. Even in the face of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry wincing with its own anticipated pain.

In Germany, 300,000 jobs depend in part on exports to Russia. There are over six thousand German companies doing business in Russia. Analysts note, however, that the EU sends 7 percent of its exports to Russia, whereas Russia ships roughly 45% of its exports to the European Union, more heavily dependent on its trade with the EU than any other source.

Will BRICS step up to the podium here?