EU will not lift sanctions against Russia as long as its troops remain in Ukraine

The European Union supports all diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, but a precondition for any decision to review or lift sanctions against Russia is an end to the war and the withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine. This was stated by European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper at a briefing in Brussels.

‘These sanctions were imposed in the context of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, and the end of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine and the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine are one of the main preconditions for the review or lifting of sanctions. Russia must demonstrate genuine political will to end its criminal and unprovoked war of aggression,’ the spokesperson said.

At the same time, Olof Gill, spokesperson for the European Commission on Economic Security and Trade, commenting on Russia's demand to reconnect Russian banks to the SWIFT payment system, said that the very fact that it was put forward as a precondition for a partial ceasefire demonstrates the effectiveness of EU sanctions.

As reported, Russia continues to delay the process of implementing the ceasefire agreements at sea, which were reached with the assistance of the United States during the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, and puts forward additional conditions for such a step, including the lifting of sanctions, the resumption of Russian banks' connection to the SWIFT system and the lifting of restrictive measures on the export of Russian agricultural products.

Source: Ukrinform