EU won’t lift sanctions against Russia

Germany opposes such a move.

There are no signs that the EU could lift or modify the sanctions against Russia this week; in particular, Germany opposes this move, foreign mass media write, as informed by Interfax.

Members of the EU are to postpone any changes in the policy towards Russia for the time being, The Wall Street Journal writes with a reference to a high-ranking diplomat. “I do not think that we could expect mitigation of sanctions in the next three days,” he said.

As it had been informed the issue of the sanctions is to be considered by the permanent representatives of the EU countries in Brussels.

Germany, as Financial Times reports, insists that there should be no mitigation of the sanctions slapped on Russia. As said by a high-ranking European official, Italy is the only country of the G7, which raised a question of reasonability of carrying on the sanctions.

According to the British newspaper, there are “no signs” that on Tuesday representatives of the EU member countries are going to lift or amend the restrictive measures adopted against Russia.

“It should be admitted that there have been some positive changes, the most positive within the recent months,” said one of the officials who participate in the talks. “But as before we are far [from the goal].”

The EU Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht told Financial Times in the end of the week that the European Commission itself is unlikely to recommend making the first move towards dilution of the sanctions. “There are no reasons for changing anything in the sanctions for the moment. What we need is a peace plan, considering the territorial integrity of Ukraine. It has not been realized so far,” he said.

On Thursday member countries of the G7 and the EU stated that they could lift the sanctions currently in force against Moscow in case Russia observes the agreements achieved on September 5 in Minsk.