German Foreign Minister: the EU may loosen sanctions on Russia if it fulfills its obligations regarding the peacekeepers in Donbas
The European Union can ease sanctions if the Russian proposal for the deployment of peacekeepers to the Donbas is quickly implemented, said German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, according to Der Spiegel magazine.
"If the deployment of peacekeepers is successful and if this can be quickly implemented, then of course we should also take action and ease sanctions," Gabriel said.
Gabriel added that it is necessary to "quickly begin negotiations in New York" about the deployment of the peacekeeping contingent in the Donbas. The diplomat noted that the implementation of the mission could be an important step towards the complete abolition of anti-Russian restrictive measures.
On September 5, Russia sent a resolution to the UN Security Council on the introduction of peacekeepers to the Donbas. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the peacekeepers would provide security for the employees of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In Germany, the authorities supported the project with some reservations. The US authorities said the project was underdeveloped and insisted on ensuring that the "blue helmets" were given free access throughout the territory of the DPR and LPR.
The European Union, the United States and several other states adopted sanctions against Russia because of the conflict in Ukraine. The West accused Moscow of financial and military support for the militias of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR). The Kremlin denies all accusations and claims that Russia is not a party to the conflict.