As Crimea Passes Two Years as Part of Russia, Time to Negotiate Away Sanctions

Two years ago Russia detached Crimea from Ukraine. Since then the Western allies have huffed and puffed while imposing economic sanctions, but to little effect. Although Russia's economy has suffered, Vladimir Putin remains popular. Most important, Crimea just celebrated the second anniversary of its switch, with construction planned on a bridge to link the territory to southern Russia. No one believes Crimea, Russian until six decades ago, is going back to Ukraine.

Yet the European Union recently called on other countries to join its ineffective boycott. Declared the European Council, one of the EU's multiple governing bodies: "The European Union remains committed to fully implementing its non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures," and "calls again on U.N. member states to consider similar non-recognition measures."

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