Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: “We Will not Allow Sanctions against Russia to Be Lifted”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview with the Ukrainian service of Radio Liberty told how Kiev will respond to Russia’s calls for EU countries to lift sanctions against it, referring to the coronavirus pandemic and a possible economic crisis. Such a proposal was previously made by several deputies from two opposition parties in the Bundestag: “Alternative for Germany” and “Left”. This appeal was supported by Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev. Kuleba believes that there is a certain risk that these attempts may be successful, but he assured that “we will not allow this plan to be implemented.” According to him, Russia considers lifting of sanctions a “humanitarian issue”, especially amid the forthcoming economic crisis associated with the suppression of economic activity by governments around the world because of the epidemic. However, Kuleba does not agree with this assessment. “I believe that this call to lift sanctions is just another proof that sanctions work. If they didn’t work, then obviously no one would even pay attention to them now,” Kuleba said. He also emphasized that the issue of countering Russia’s aggression “cannot go into the background, and I constantly draw attention to and control the key aspects of this counteraction, when communicating, inter alia, with our partners.” “Ending sanctions against Russia is the best program for our economy during the time of the coronavirus. Experts expect a loss of 1 percent of GDP this year. At the same time, German economy is losing 667 million euros every month from extended sanctions. That is, we lose 8 billion euro in a year,” Anton Friesen, foreign relations committee member, said on March 19. Friesen is a member of the alternative-right-wing party, “Alternative for Germany”, the largest opposition party in the Bundestag. It was founded 8 years ago and at first advocated criticism of the European Union and the Eurozone. After the start of the migration crisis, “Alternative for Germany” took over the anti-migrant agenda. The party enjoys great support among the Russian-speaking community in Germany. Its representatives have repeatedly criticized EU sanctions against Moscow, party members have been observers in the elections in Crimea annexed by Russia. “The current crisis provides a unique chance to break the vicious circle when sanctions are imposed in the hope of their political effectiveness ... this leads to nothing but mutual economic losses,” Konstantin Kosachev wrote following the statements of the Bundestag on Facebook. In his opinion, “there is a need for a global agreement on the one-time and total lifting of any economic sanctions other than those imposed by the UN Security Council,” and “in the short term, this is the most expeditious and effective response to today’s challenges associated with the pandemic.” A statement by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on a wave of proposals to lift sanctions says: “Recent manipulations - proposals by Russian official Konstantin Kosachev to “abolish sanctions on coronavirus” eloquently confirm that the current economic restrictions against Russia in connection with aggression against Ukraine significantly affect the Russian economy, despite the fact that the Kremlin constantly denies this.” The ministry reminds: “Sanctions against Russia are the response of the international community to Russia’s flagrant violations of the principles of international law - the inviolability of internationally recognized borders, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and in the first place, in connection with the ongoing aggression of Russia against Ukraine ... The world really should unite in the fight against coronavirus, however, such a fight should not be a reason for ignoring or impunity of the ongoing aggression of Russia against Ukraine”, a statement by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads. On March 13, the European Union extended the sanctions against Russia for another six months for violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. They apply to citizens of Russia, legal entities and leaders of Donbas unrecognized “republics”. Prior to this, the economic sanctions imposed against Russia after the annexation of Crimea were also extended.