BEIJING, February 27. /TASS/. The new package of sanctions on Russia will help the West "feel better for a minute," but will only fuel the conflict in Ukraine in the long term, Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times newspaper.
"Such impulse actions may help Western countries vent out their frustration and feel better for a minute, but it will cause more bloodshed, more sacrifice and bigger property loss as it further fuels the conflict," he pointed out, as cited by the paper. According to the expert, attempts to isolate Russia on the international stage through sanctions have worsened the prospects for peace talks between Moscow and Kiev.
Li Ziguo, a senior research fellow with the China Institute of International Studies, said that the sanctions were expected to have very limited impact on Russia. "They are just diplomatic and symbolic gestures from the Western countries to vent out their frustrations," he noted.
On February 25, the European Union put into effect its 10th package of sanctions on Russia, targeting 87 individuals and 34 entities. On February 24, the US Department of Commerce expanded sanctions against Russia and Belarus, particularly introducing export restrictions. A total of 76 Russian entities were blacklisted, along with companies from other countries.