The cessation of attacks and the unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory are among the main conditions for the lifting of European Union sanctions against Moscow, a European Commission spokesperson said today in response to questions related to Russia's conditions for ceasefire negotiations, BTA reports.
The EU introduced the sanctions in response to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. According to the Commission spokesman, Russia must show a clear political will to end the war, and any negotiations must lead to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine.
He added that the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian banks from the SWIFT banking messaging system was a measure aimed at limiting the possibilities for financing the war.
“Obviously, the sanctions are having an impact on the Russian economy, so ways are being sought to remove them“, the spokesman said. He stressed that decisions to lift the sanctions can only be taken unanimously by the EU Council.