EU Unleashes Sweeping Sanctions Against Moscow and Minsk

On May 8, the European Commission presented a new round of sanctions on Russia and Belarus to the ambassadors of the European Union member states. The proposal, seen by RFE/RL, is actually surprisingly ambitious, given that the bloc has adopted numerous rather weak packages in the past. The big question is whether the measures, if adopted, will retain their clout. As they have to be adopted unanimously, there is a risk of them being watered down.Surprisingly, the proposed measures touch on Russian energy, something that has been a "no-go" ever…