EU not to alleviate Russia sanctions in exchange for assistance in Syria

The European Union is planning to prolong the economic sanctions imposed on Russia despite consolidation with Moscow after the terrorist attacks in Paris, The Wall Street Journal refers to EU diplomats and officials. The EU does not want Russia’s help in Syria ‘at the expense of Ukraine’, the edition informs.

The western sanctions were imposed on Russia in connection with the events in Ukraine. That is why the European Union’s sanctions are connected with the fulfillment of Minsk agreements.

The EU Ministers did not even discuss the alleviation of the sanctions with the aim of encouraging Moscow to fight Syrian Islamites on November 16, Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs said.

The western countries are considering three variants of extending the sanctions now, The Wall Street Journal reports. The restrictive measures may be prolonged for 6 months, a year or for 3-4 months. The current term will be over at the end of January 2016.

Photo: kommersant.ru