Many would like to see the EU really lose its cool with Vladimir Putin, just once, especially now it is clear that Russian troops are in Ukraine. But in its own way it is, says DW's Claire Davenport, reports GHN based on dw.de
To the average observer the message here is dull. Today European Union leaders agreed more of the same: sanctions. Some EU leaders sharpened their often too dove-ish tones with words such as "unacceptable" to describe Russia's reported incursion into Ukraine.
Some might say more sanctions is a lame move and not the short sharp pill they were dressed up to be - especially given Russia's retaliatory moves. But given time, they may offer a lasting geopolitical solution. Moreover, there is little else on the table.
Intervention is not an option. There's no appetite among the Americans or NATO to tangle militarily with the Russians. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said today that he does not want foreign troops in Ukraine.
One of the preferred options in Ukraine is to join NATO. Membership in the Western military alliance comes with the very desirable mutual defense pact with the United States.
While NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Ukraine was within its rights to request membership, it remains an unlikely prospect in the near future. A Russian incursion in Ukraine is perhaps not a problem the alliance wants while it is in the throes of an identity crisis.
Instead, NATO has put forward some ceremonial measures that might paper over the cracks: such as trust funds to improve Ukrainian military capabilities in logistics, command and control, cyber defense and personnel.