EU rejects Russian ceasefire demand for sanctions relief

Stay in view of the free updates

Simply subscribe to War in Ukraine Myft Digest – it is delivered directly to your inbox.

Brussels rejected Russia’s request to raise the restrictions of the European Union on a major agricultural bank as part of the partial ceasefire deal, saying that the sanctions system will remain in place until the “unconditional withdrawal” of Moscow forces from Ukraine.

The European Commission’s statement came on Wednesday after the United States said it had agreed to a ceasefire with Russia and Ukraine, and cover the energy infrastructure and the Black Sea.

The Kremlin later claimed that the agreement was dependent on the dropping of sanctions including those imposed on Rosselkhozbank, a bank that participates in financing the production and export of food, and re -connecting it to the rapid global banking system.

“The end of the unjustified and unjustified Russian aggression in Ukraine and the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire lands of Ukraine will be one of the main pre -conditions that adjust or lift sanctions.”

“The main focus of the European Union remains an increase in pressure on Russia, using all available tools, including sanctions, to reduce Russia’s ability to launch its war against Ukraine.”

The committee also rejected Russian accusations that its sanctions against Moscow may restrict food and fertilizer exports, which is a political sensitive issue, given the importance of both poor countries.

“The European Union has supported the constant efforts towards enhancing global food security. European Union sanctions are not targeting trade in agricultural goods, including food, grains and fertilizers, in any way, between Russia and the third countries,” added Hipper.

The position of the European Union will be a relief to Ukraine, which has been pressured by Washington to make concessions to end the full invasion that Russia made three years ago.

Voludmir Zelinski said Western sanctions against Russia must remain in effect until the Kremlin stops his war against his country.

In his speech on Tuesday evening, the Ukrainian leader said that the ceasefire depends on the sanctions on the Russian agricultural sector that the three parties did not agree during their parallel talks in Riyadh.

He said that this was “this” is something that the Kremlin is lying again: it is claimed that silence in the Black Sea depends on the issue of sanctions, and claims that the date of starting silence in the energy sector is March 18. “

“We see how the Russians have already begun to manipulate,” Zelinski added. “They are already trying to distort the agreements and deceive our brokers and the whole world.”

Dmitry Peskov, a Putin spokesman, told reporters that Russia’s demands have largely repeated what Moscow claimed that it had agreed to issue the year 2022 of the Black Sea deal in which the United Nations and Turkey mediated.

“All the conditions were fulfilled except for those that were forced to deal with the Russian side,” Peskov said, according to television. The Russians fell unilaterally from the Black Sea deal a year later, in 2023.

“Of course, justice must win, and we will continue our work with the Americans,” Peskov said.