European Parliament wants EU to keep anti-Russian sanctions

BRUSSELS, Jan 15 (PRIME) -- The European Parliament has called upon the E.U. to keep its anti-Russian sanctions and agree on criteria for lifting them in March, the parliament said in a statement Thursday.

“E.U. sanctions against Russia should stay in place until it changes its aggressive policy in Ukraine, respects the ceasefire, withdraws its troops and stops supporting separatists,” the parliament said.

Parliament members urged the union to keep the sanctions and “approve ‘benchmarks’ for lifting them. These should include respecting the ceasefire, unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and illegal armed groups, exchanging all prisoners and restoring Ukraine’s control over its whole territory, including Crimea.”

“In the event of further Russian actions destabilizing Ukraine, the Council should broaden the range of sanctions to include the nuclear sector and international financial transactions.”

On January 5, French President Francois Hollande said that the E.U. should lift the sanctions if there are signs of progress in the Ukrainian geopolitical crisis.

Later in January, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the sanctions may be fully abolished only if there is a progress in the Crimean issue.

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