Obama, EU leaders agree to extend sanctions against Russia

World Today

Obama, EU leaders agree to extend sanctions against Russia

U.S. and European leaders agree to extend sanctions against Russia. The sanctions are set to expire days after Donald Trump takes office in January.

CCTV’s Guy Henderson reports from Berlin.

Barack Obama’s parting words to his closest foreign partner were: “good luck.”

The outgoing U.S. president said a Donald Trump White House will still value the fundamentals of the Trans-Atlantic Alliance.

But neither leader hides that the relationship may well look rather different.

For one thing, the President-elect has promised to thaw relations between Washington and Moscow.

That is not yet in his power though.

European and U.S. leaders have agreed to extend sanctions over Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Further punishment over Syria is also in their sites.

Officials on both sides of the Atlantic accuse Vladimir Putin of pushing for advantage on the ground ahead of the American transition despite mass civilian casualties.

Such measures have been central to the Chancellor’s arsenal to date, with U.S. support.

As Obama departs, Europe is still holding its breath. Much about what’s to come seems to remain an educated guess – even at the highest level.