The European Union (EU) has recently decided to extend the sanctions on Russian individuals and firms for another 6 months. The sanctions were first implemented by the EU in 2014, due to the aggressive territorial integrity of Russia on Ukraine. Russia demonstrated hard power when President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to be sent to Ukraine. This led to the annexation of Crimea, and the instability of Ukraine. The purpose of the sanction is to pressurize Russia into signing the Minsk cease-fire agreement. The EU is mainly using hard power, such as money, to hopefully persuade Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine, as well as several other demands. The process has decreased Russia's soft and hard power.
The sanctions specifically target around 150 people, including Russian advisors, lawmakers, and Ukrainian rebel leaders. The implementation of the sanctions includes freezing people's assets and imposing travel bans upon the person. This is an example of hard power because it shows the European Union using economic power, to force Russia into doing something they are unwilling to do. Russia has been countering the EU's economic sanctions with their own economic sanctions upon specific countries. However, Russia's decrease in its economy has been significantly shown through the past year. The EU has decided to extend their economic sanctions until January, 2016 to increase their hard power over Russia.
If Russia were to agree to sign the Minsk cease-fire agreement, the country would have to withdraw all troops from Ukraine. As for Ukraine, the government has to agree to broaden constitutional reforms to increase autonomy of the eastern regions of the country, where most of the separatists are located. This limits Russia's military forces, another form of hard power. The implementation of the EU's sanctions were a reaction of Russia's efforts to increase an aspect of hard power, land.
Russia's hard power decreases as several of its companies and firms have their foreign assets frozen. Several firms include the Bank of Russia, the central bank of Russia; Novatek, Russia's largest independent natural gas producer; and Gazprombank, Russia's third largest bank. Under the sanctions Russian banks are banned from raising long-term loans; exports of dual-use equipment for military use in Russia are banned; and future EU-Russia arms deals are banned. The two main aspects of hard power that are being limited by the EU are "economy" and "military." Several of individuals with travel bans and frozen assets have placed investments or money in the Swiss bank. Due to the sanctions, the banned individuals are unable to retrieve their money, making them poor.
Some of Russia's soft power are being restricted because of the EU's hard power sanctions. Officials and ambassadors from Russia have been placed on travel ban to certain EU countries. Major officials include Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak; Igor Sergun, head of Russia’s main intelligence directorate; and Dmitry Rogozin, who, according to the EU, publicly called for the seizing of the territory. These officials often regulate Russia's foreign relations. Without them being able to leave the country to hold diplomatic talks with other countries, Russia's foreign policy decreases.
With the extension of the European Union, it has significantly limited Russia's soft and hard power. Russia's hard power, mainly their economy and military, are decreasing due to the imposed sanctions. The country's soft power, foreign policy, is also decreasing as the conflict continues. The European Union is exerting the bloc's hard power to hopefully "persuade" Russia to comply to the cease-fire deal.
The sanctions specifically target around 150 people, including Russian advisors, lawmakers, and Ukrainian rebel leaders. The implementation of the sanctions includes freezing people's assets and imposing travel bans upon the person. This is an example of hard power because it shows the European Union using economic power, to force Russia into doing something they are unwilling to do. Russia has been countering the EU's economic sanctions with their own economic sanctions upon specific countries. However, Russia's decrease in its economy has been significantly shown through the past year. The EU has decided to extend their economic sanctions until January, 2016 to increase their hard power over Russia.
If Russia were to agree to sign the Minsk cease-fire agreement, the country would have to withdraw all troops from Ukraine. As for Ukraine, the government has to agree to broaden constitutional reforms to increase autonomy of the eastern regions of the country, where most of the separatists are located. This limits Russia's military forces, another form of hard power. The implementation of the EU's sanctions were a reaction of Russia's efforts to increase an aspect of hard power, land.
Russia's hard power decreases as several of its companies and firms have their foreign assets frozen. Several firms include the Bank of Russia, the central bank of Russia; Novatek, Russia's largest independent natural gas producer; and Gazprombank, Russia's third largest bank. Under the sanctions Russian banks are banned from raising long-term loans; exports of dual-use equipment for military use in Russia are banned; and future EU-Russia arms deals are banned. The two main aspects of hard power that are being limited by the EU are "economy" and "military." Several of individuals with travel bans and frozen assets have placed investments or money in the Swiss bank. Due to the sanctions, the banned individuals are unable to retrieve their money, making them poor.
Some of Russia's soft power are being restricted because of the EU's hard power sanctions. Officials and ambassadors from Russia have been placed on travel ban to certain EU countries. Major officials include Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak; Igor Sergun, head of Russia’s main intelligence directorate; and Dmitry Rogozin, who, according to the EU, publicly called for the seizing of the territory. These officials often regulate Russia's foreign relations. Without them being able to leave the country to hold diplomatic talks with other countries, Russia's foreign policy decreases.
With the extension of the European Union, it has significantly limited Russia's soft and hard power. Russia's hard power, mainly their economy and military, are decreasing due to the imposed sanctions. The country's soft power, foreign policy, is also decreasing as the conflict continues. The European Union is exerting the bloc's hard power to hopefully "persuade" Russia to comply to the cease-fire deal.