VTB CEO says US may ease anti-Russian sanctions in 2017

DAVOS, Jan 17 (PRIME) -- The U.S. can abolish or ease anti-Russian sanctions in 2017, VTB Bank CEO Andrei Kostin told reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Tuesday.

“I believe there will certainly be easing, at least this year. I believe it is quite realistic,” he said.

The sanctions could be first of all abolished in the financial sphere, he said.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia limited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

End