EU 'may' weaken sanctions on Russia if ends Ukraine operation: Spokesperson
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The European Union makes a very fragile promise to Russia that it could soften its sanctions on Moscow if it withdraws from Ukraine.
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European Union flag outside the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium (Reuters)
A future where Moscow withdraws its troops from Ukraine and ends its special military operation there could see the European Union softening its sanctions on Russia, European External Action Service spokesperson Peter Stan told RIA Novosti on Monday.
"The end of the Russian unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine would be one of the main preconditions for EU Member States to consider scaling back or lifting the sanctions introduced for undermining the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," Stano said.
Russia had launched a special military operation for several reasons, including NATO's eastward expansion. Other reasons were the Ukrainian shelling of Donbass and the killing of the people of the Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic, in addition to Moscow wanting to "denazify" and demilitarize Ukraine.
The official claimed that the 27-nation bloc imposed sanctions on Russia to bring about "the change of behavior" and react to breaches of international law and human rights until they are addressed.
Following Russia's operation, the US and its allies responded by rolling out comprehensive sanctions, including restrictions on the Russian central bank, export control measures, SWIFT cutoff for select banks, and closure of airspace to all Russian flights. Many of their companies have suspended their Russian operations.
