The EU Wrestles With a Response to Russia

The European Union's foreign ministers met Monday in Luxembourg to discuss the bloc's foreign policy. Finding common ground among the 28 EU members on any subject can be difficult, much less in an area such as foreign policy, where decisions have to be taken by unanimity. The task becomes even more complicated when, like Monday, Russia is on the agenda. After the meeting, the European Union issued a statement criticizing Moscow's involvement in the Syrian conflict and of its veto of the UN Security Council resolution to restore the ceasefire and allow humanitarian access to the city of Aleppo. But notably, despite weeks of speculation that the bloc would consider more sanctions, the statement did not address any punitive measures against Russia over Syria. Before the foreign ministers meeting, EU members had been discussing ways to increase pressure on Russia to get it to stop its airstrikes against Aleppo and allow...