Vladimir Chizhov
The terms of easing policy of the European Union against Russia are ripe — such opinion in interview to the newspaper “Izvestia” stated Russian Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov.
“In any case, it is noticeable that the situation is ripening for the change of course of the EU towards Russia in General and on this issue in particular,” he said. According to Chizhov, there’s a lot of evidence. However, it is difficult to say when “a critical mass of political will is achieved”, added the Ambassador.
“I will not speculate. I can only say that towards the end of the month you can expect another discussion of one of the three packets of the anti-unilateral restrictive measures (a more correct term than “sanctions”), which expires on 31 July — the so-called sectoral, or economic measures,” Chizhov recalled.
“The question is when EU will accumulate enough political will to revise this policy. Whether this will happen in June or six months — it is from the sphere of divination” — he said.
A number of countries, including the USA and member States of the European Union, introduced in 2014, the restrictive measures against Moscow, linking them with the annexation of Crimea to Russia, and then the conflict in the South-East of Ukraine. They affect the financial, energy and defense sectors of the Russian economy.
Brussels also imposed sanctions against the Crimea, valid until 23 June this year. On 6 June the ambassadors of the member countries of the European Union agreed on the extension of these measures for a period of one year.