Extension of the EU’s anti-Russia sanctions

Submitted on Fri, 09/18/2020 - 11:49

We have taken note of the EU Council decision of September 10 to renew sanctions targeting people and entities in connection with their alleged involvement in the 2014 developments in Ukraine for another six months, until March 15, 2021.

We see this as yet another missed opportunity to get out of the deadlock into which the EU pushed itself in 2014 when it linked the possible development of ties with Russia to the situation in Ukraine. The renewal of the EU sanctions is in keeping with the destructive line of the Brussels officials and EU bodies to continue making accusations against Russia. Instead of looking for common ground as Russia has proposed, which would strengthen the European countries’ positions in the modern highly competitive world, the EU continues to act out of inertia, renewing the old and inventing new restrictions against Russian people and entities.

We urge the EU to abandon its policy of unilateral sanctions, which contradict the norms and spirit of international law.