EU against facilitating sanctions on Russia
Russia has formulated conditions for a ceasefire in the Black Sea and called for facilitating sanctions. The EU said it is ready, but on condition.
The EU refuses to remove sanctions on Russian agricultural products. Moscow put this as a condition of agreeing on a ceasefire in the Black Sea.
The EU has been informed of the proposals to ensure safe transport and to end the attacks on energy facilities in Ukraine and Russia, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kalas said in Brussels. Now Russia must show true political will to put an end to its aggressive, illegal and unprovoked war.
EU ready but with conditions
The EU is ready to support the next steps along with Ukraine, the US and other partners. Another spokeswoman for the EU Commission said: « The end of the unprovoked and unjustified Russian aggression in Ukraine, as well as the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian armed forces from all the territory of Ukraine, would be one of the most important prerequisites for changing or removing sanctions. »
Speculation about the purpose of Russian conditions
According to the German DPA news agency, which refers to European Commission representatives and diplomats, the conditions formulated by Moscow to implement the agreement most likely have not been discussed and coordinated with the US administration of President Donald Trump. Therefore they can mainly serve to slow down efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine.
EU circles emphasized that the most important thing in all possible steps is for them to be of interest and benefit of Ukraine. Therefore a relief of some of the sanctions would be imaginable if it contributed to an acceptable peace solution for Ukraine.
