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Reuters
The European Union at the forthcoming June summit of EU leaders will seek a renewal of economic sanctions against Russia, which expires on July 31. On Friday Reuters reported, citing close to the organization of the event sources.
According to the Agency, the idea of extending sanctions against Russia, fully support Sweden, the Baltic States and Poland, while Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Spain and Bulgaria are not sure of the correctness of this decision. “We don’t like sanctions,” the Agency quotes a source in Brussels, represents one of the last countries. “For us this is a big loss in business. However, we stick with the majority,” added the diplomat.
For a decision on extending the sanctions requires the approval of all 28 EU countries. “First, we will extend the sanctions imposed after the reunification of the Crimea with Russia. The economic sanctions will be extended after the summit of EU leaders in June. It can affect two things: presidential elections in France and the tramp”, – quotes Agency the words of another source.
The candidate from “National front” marine Le Pen in reaching the second round of presidential elections in France, has repeatedly spoken out against the introduction of sanctions against Russia. At the same time, another source of Reuters said that despite the uncertainty that emerged after the US President-elect Donald trump took office, it is now clear that Washington’s position would be in line with the EU position. However, according to another source the Agency, the United States significantly avoid discussions about sanctions against Russia, and the EU do not exclude that relations between Moscow and Washington can improve. “The renewal of sanctions at the moment, no doubt, but who knows what will happen in the future, if there is no U.S. support”, – quotes Agency of a diplomat.
In 2014 Brussels have imposed sanctions against Moscow in connection with the events in Ukraine and the reunification of the Crimea with Russia and repeatedly extended them and extended the validity of these measures. Was suspended talks on visa-free regime and a new framework agreement on cooperation, a ban on entry into EU countries for officials from Russia and frozen their assets, the restrictions imposed trade, financial and military. In black lists were 151 people and 37 entities. Sectoral sanctions against 20 Russian financial, oil and defense structures.
Russia in turn retaliated.