EU Has No Plans for Easing Russia Sanctions The European Union has no plans to review the blocs sanctions against Russia at a regular meeting of foreign ministers, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday. Ms. Mogherini, speaking ahead of the meeting where Russia is expected to be a major topic, was at pains to dispel any notion that the bloc is relaxing its position. The point under discussion isnt our support for Ukraine. That stays strong and firm, she said. It is not a discussion on sanctions. Some analysts have suggested in recent weeks that the EU may be preparing to soften its position on Russia, partly because of the pressure falling oil prices have put on the Russian economy which is dependent on oil and gas for much of its export revenue. The EU and other western countries imposed sanctions after Russias annexation of Crimea last year. Disclosure last week of an internal EU document outlining possible areas of cooperation with Moscow strengthened that speculation. Any discussion of sanctions, Ms. Mogherini said, will only be based on improvements on the ground, on implementation of the Minsk [peace] agreement. She added that she was concerned by a recent attack on a bus in Ukraine after a period of relative quiet. The coming back of violence in eastern Ukraine isnt good news, she said. Discussions concerning Russia will focus on how the tools we have can be used in a more coordinated way, a more effective way, Ms. Mogherini added. Some EU diplomats have argued that the bloc should be emphasizing ways in which the two sides can cooperate as well as sanctions.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 08:34:53 +0000
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