NATO and its struggle to fall the Russian economy via sanctions is in shambles due to EU countries.These countries realize the US-led military bloc's agenda will only condemn energy and economic security.
Five EU Countries Defy NATO's Sanctions
Most bloc members feel the alliance is doomed, not wanting to listen to Brussels or Washington. Their trade with Russia has increased even after the special operation in Ukraine, reported Express UK.
Disunity in the block is magnified more than ever as Brussels is aghast over punitive measures not accepted by all members. Leaders of these states said they would not support Zelensky at all. Denial of his request has set Zelensky in hysterics that prove futile.
These nations that drew the ire of the military bloc are Slovenia, Bulgaria, Spain, Hungary, and Greece, trading up to 250% more than a year ago from November. One of the outlets has remarked that Hungarian imports from Russia hit a high of 262% over three years, per The Telegraph.
One of these leaders is Hungary's prime minister, the key ally in the European Union with the slightest desire to help Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders have complained to Brussels to force Orban to follow the bloc chiefs.
Dr. Eszter Simon from Nottingham Trent University, an expert on Hungarian politics, said that Budapest had chosen Moscow over the European Union and indicated that Orban has supported Russia since 2010 but keeping the benefits of the bloc.
Sanctions Against the Russian Economy
Other members like Bulgaria and Slovenia have kept economic ties from last year. Brussels is impotent to enforce a ban on Russian gas imports that will sink these members like those suffering from an energy crunch. Spain is destitute for energy as Algeria cut a deal after a dispute in the West Sahara, citing Arab News.
Suppose it was not for the conflict which changed the rules to make Russia the second largest energy provider. The stark contrast between punitive measures for Moscow and billions for Kyiv shows its allegiances.
Defense analyst Michael Clarke stated that the bloc is pushing for independence from Russian energy permanently. He mentions that the Biden administration's presence in European affairs changes everything but not everyone's liking.
The US-led military bloc has convinced members to give Ukraine weapons and has provoked Russia by expanding on its eastern side. Former allies countries of Moscow, like Poland and other countries, are getting inclined to support Russia.
What it means is the push by the US to continue the war against Putin will have a bad result for formerly prosperous Europe. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in 2022 that the Kremlin would be ready to give the west a bloody nose.
If the Ukraine conflict was not ignited by western military support from Ukraine. The bloc would not be begging for expensive natural gas as a result. Oil is coming hard to get as its former benefactor has tightened the nails on the European economy.
It came at the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, with food getting expensive and fertilizer and commodities experiencing shortages due to the conflict. This conflict has made strong players better and weak ones jockeying or being lost.
NATO is undertaking futility by blaming EU countries for not pushing sanctions to affect the Russian economy. These five states have no desire to see the fallout if the west losses.
