Germany opposes lifting Russian sanctions amid peace talks
The lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia would be a mistake at this time, stated German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after the summit in Paris on Thursday regarding support for Ukraine, with representatives from nearly 30 countries participating. The Kremlin is demanding the removal of some sanctions as part of ongoing peace negotiations with the U.S.
According to Scholz, "it makes no sense at all" to lift sanctions until peace is achieved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Unfortunately we are still a long way from that, as you can see, he assessed. The German Chancellor noted that it is evident Russia is not currently very interested in peace.
Let us recall that on Tuesday, the White House, in a statement following the U.S.-Russia and U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, informed that Russia and Ukraine agreed with the United States to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial ships for military purposes in the Black Sea.
Both Russia and Ukraine were also supposed to "develop measures for implementing President Trump’s and President Putin’s agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine." Both sides also made declarations about working towards lasting peace.
Additionally, the U.S. was supposed to agree to help "restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions."
At least some of the conditions set by Russia are not within the purview of the U.S., but rather the European Union. This includes, among other things, the demand to reintegrate Rosselkhozbank into the international banking communication system SWIFT.
"US Statement on the Riyadh talks is out. Gains for Russia are apparent (facilitating Russian exports through the Black Sea). Gains for Ukraine are not. Russia slow walking process. US should not play that game," commented Daniel Fried on Tuesday on the X service from the think tank Atlantic Council.
Journalist Michael Weiss from The Insider noted that lifting EU sanctions, would require unanimity among member countries. He also mentioned that this applies to reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT. "Looks like those freeloading Europeans are being asked to 'bail out' the United States in its diplomatic capitulation to Russia," he assessed.
On Thursday, a summit of the "coalition of the willing," i.e., countries supporting Ukraine, including the peace process, took place in Paris. The meeting was attended by heads of state and government from 27 countries, as well as leaders of European Union and NATO institutions.
