The European Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday that the EU will not lift or modify sanctions against Russia unless Moscow agrees to unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
According to reports by Reuters, Anitta Hipper, the EU’s spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, stated that “ending Russia’s unwarranted and unjust aggression against Ukraine, and unconditionally withdrawing Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine, will be one of the main conditions for modifying or lifting sanctions.”
Hipper added, “Russia must now demonstrate a genuine political willingness to end its illegal and unwarranted aggression war.”
On Tuesday, the White House issued two statements indicating that the United States has reached an agreement with both Russia and Ukraine on the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, suspending attacks at sea and on energy targets by both parties. Meanwhile, Washington agreed to push for the partial lifting of sanctions against Moscow.
Russia confirmed on that day that as a prerequisite for the Black Sea maritime safety agreement, the United States has agreed to help Russia lift a series of Western sanctions and restrictions on its food, fertilizers, and shipping companies.
According to Russian media reports, the Kremlin stated that the agreement would only come into effect after the West lifts the sanctions affecting its agricultural exports.
The EU was not invited to participate in the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. However, the European Commission stated that the EU welcomes the agreement reached between Washington and Kyiv.
The EU extended two sets of sanctions against Russia at the end of January and earlier this month for another six months. The European Commission added that the union has not imposed comprehensive sanctions on agricultural products but has placed “prohibitive tariffs” on grain products imported from Russia and Belarus, effective from July 1 last year.
Furthermore, the proposal to impose additional tariffs on more agricultural products and some fertilizers is still under discussion.
Any changes to the sanctions require unanimous agreement from all 27 EU member states.