EU states in Russia's shadow fearful about tougher sanctions


Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico holds a news conference at an European Union leaders summit in Brussels March 21, 2014. REUTERS/Laurent Dubrule

WARSAW/PRAGUE (Reuters) - The European Union states that used to be behind the Iron Curtain have most to fear from Russian aggression, yet also most to lose from imposing sanctions, and for now the fear of losing money is winning out.

Messages over the past week from officials in the EU's 11 ex-Communist member countries indicate that most of them are going to be very resistant to any attempt by the bloc to impose the next stage of sanctions, on trade and economic ties.

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