Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister on risk of lifting sanctions on Russia: This is not a reversible issue
Photo: Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Sanctions against Russia remain a key tool of international pressure. Most of the aggressor country's assets are frozen in EU jurisdictions, and their unblocking is not on the agenda, states Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna, during the opening of the Ukraine's Path to the EU in Illustrations, Posters, and Artworks exhibition.
In response to an RBC-Ukraine question about whether there is a risk of lifting some sanctions on Russia following consultations in Saudi Arabia, she noted that this is not a reversible issue.
"The majority of sanctions, including almost all sovereign assets of the Russian Federation, are frozen specifically in the territory and jurisdictions of the European Union. Therefore, this is precisely the moment when we understand that this is not a reversible issue," she said.
She pointed out that Russia was the first to raise the issue of sanctions publicly, but for Ukraine, this was not a surprise. According to Stefanishyna, a similar situation had already occurred during the negotiation of the grain corridor agreement in the Black Sea and other arrangements.
"I am confident regarding the European Union. But, in principle, if we take into account the official statements of the US, particularly after the so-called consultations that took place (between the US and Russia), they did not appear radical," she added.
16th EU sanctions package against Russia
Notably, the ambassadors of the 27 EU member states approved the 16th package of sanctions against Russia during a meeting in Brussels on February 19. Foreign ministers are set to officially endorse the sanctions in Brussels on Monday, February 24 — the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
As previously reported, the European Union will not ban the purchase of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the new sanctions package. However, Brussels will impose certain restrictions.
RBC-Ukraine earlier wrote that media outlets have obtained details of the 16th EU sanctions package against Russia.
