EU extends Russia sanctions citing ‘lack of progress’ on Minsk, while giving Ukraine deal new chance
EU extends Russia sanctions over Ukraine crisis
(about 5 hours later)
Economic sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia are to remain in place for another six months due to “not enough progress” on Minsk peace agreement, to which Kiev is a party. EU leaders then decided to give the stalled Ukraine association deal a new chance.
The EU will leave the economic sanctions it has imposed on Russia in place for another six months, saying that “not enough progress” has been made in fulfilling the Minsk peace agreement, to which Kiev is a party.
“It was clear that we would prolong the sanctions for six months,” European Council President Donald Tusk told a press conference, following the EU summit in Brussels. He noted that although “some of our colleagues would prefer [to extend sanctions] maybe [for] 12 months,” there was not much of a debate on the issue.
“It was clear that we would prolong the sanctions for six months,” European Council President Donald Tusk told a press conference following the EU summit in Brussels, noting that, although “some of our colleagues would prefer [to extend sanctions] maybe [for] 12 months,” there was not much of a debate on the issue.
Reuters reported that Poland was one of the states that had been pushing for a longer extension, but its proposal was dismissed by other countries, particularly Italy, which has opposed the sanctions on previous occasions, saying they are detrimental to its economy.
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Reuters reported that Poland was one of the states pushing for a longer extension period, but its proposal was dismissed by other countries, in particular Italy, which has opposed the policy previous occasions as detrimental as detrimental to its economy.
When asked if the EU might change its approach to Russia, including its sanctions policy, after President-elect Donald Trump assumes the US presidency in January, Tusk refused to speculate, saying that “we have too many signals.”
Touching on the possible change in EU policy toward Russia, including, in terms of sanctions, with new US President-elect Donald Trump assuming the office in January, Tusk refused to speculate on the matter, saying that “we have too many signals.”
At the same time, he noted that the leaders had not discussed introducing an additional package of punitive measures against Russia in connection with situation in Syria.
At the same time, he noted that the leaders have not discussed a possibility to adopt another package of punitive steps against Russia in connection with situation in Syria.
The EU leaders cited a lack of progress in implementing the Minsk Accords as their justification for extending the sanctions. That agreement outlines steps that should be taken to secure a political resolution of the military conflict between rebels in the self-proclaimed Peoples’ Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine, and the coup-installed government in Kiev. The EU alleges that Moscow is backing the rebels militarily and influencing their rapprochement with Kiev.
The lack of progress in implementation of the Minsk Accords that outlined political settlement of the military conflict between rebels in self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples’ Republics and the Ukrainian government in Kiev was cited by EU leaders as the reason for the sanctions to stay. The EU considers Moscow to be backing the rebels militarily and having an influence on their rapprochement with Kiev.
“French President [Francois Hollande] and I… reported that the implementation is going at a slow pace, but this is a single foundation we have,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, adding that “unfortunately, the progress is not enough for us to be able to say that we can ease the sanctions on that basis.”
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“The French President [Francois Hollande] and I…reported that the implementation goes at a slow pace, but this is a single foundation we have,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, adding that “unfortunately, the progress is not enough so we would be able to say that we can ease the sanctions on that basis.”
Hollande pointed out that reconciliation in Ukraine is a two-sided process and is impossible without Kiev’s commitment to the deal.
Hollande pointed out that reconciliation in Ukraine is a two-sided process and is impossible without Kiev’s commitment to the deal. But the EU apparently decided to stimulate the lack of progress on Kiev’s side with pushing for the association agreement with Ukraine, which has been left in limbo following the April referendum in the Netherlands that overwhelmingly rejected it.
“The Ukrainian government should, also, for its part, fulfill its obligations under the Minsk Accords,” the French president said.
“The Ukrainian government should, also, for its part, fulfill obligations under the Minsk Accords. But we needed to give them some kind of perspective, so we made this decision, which will allow the Netherlands to ratify the Association Agreement [between Ukraine and the EU],” Hollande said.
Meanwhile, in a telephone call that US Vice President Joe Biden had with Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, Washington welcomed the prolongation of sanctions, the White House said in a statement.
In a possible other reason why the deal was given a new chance, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the failure to reach the agreement on it would have been perceived as “an enormous present for Russia,” Reuters reported.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow will also continue with its embargo on EU food imports that was put in place in response to the EU sanctions as a countermeasure.
“Now the responsibility lies with the Netherlands. The ratification is important not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe’s geopolitical standing and credibility,” Tusk said, commenting on the breakthrough.
“We have retained those countermeasures so far, but should be ready, as sooner or later this period will end, and competition will be here again,” Medvedev said on Thursday. However, he also explained that the restrictions had been introduced, “not to annoy our Western partners,” but rather to give Russian business a boost.
As a way to court the Dutch, the document appears to have lost some of its original value in the conciliation process and now has fewer advantages available for common Ukrainians. Under the reviewed agreement, Ukraine will not automatically be considered a candidate for the EU membership, neither its citizens would be granted a right to work and live in the EU. The EU also will not pledge military and financial assistance within its framework.
After the people of Crimea overwhelmingly voted to reunite with Russia following the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich in a violent coup in February of 2014, and the consequent turmoil in Ukraine, the EU imposed an array of economic sanctions on Russia’s banking, energy and defense sectors. Russia responded with countermeasures, including a food embargo on the countries that backed the sanctions.
The agreement will be submitted for ratification to the Dutch Parliament in January, according to Rutte. It needs the approval of all 28 members of the union to come into effect.
Meanwhile, Washington welcomed the prolongation of sanctions against Russia in a telephone call between US Vice President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, the White House said in a statement.
The Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow will also proceed with its embargo on EU food important imposed as retaliatory measures in response to the EU sanctions.
“We have retained those countermeasures so far but should be ready that sooner or later this period will end, and competition will be here again,” Medvedev said on Thursday, although noting that the restrictions were imposed “not to annoy our Western partners” but rather to give a boost to Russian business.
After the people of Crimea overwhelmingly voted in favor of reuniting with Russia following the overthrow of the Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich in February 2014 and the consequent turmoil in Ukraine, the EU imposed an array of economic sanctions targeting Russia’s banking, energy and defense sectors. Russia responded with counter-measures imposing a food embargo on the countries that backed the sanctions.
