Russia Must Withdraw from Ukraine Before Sanctions Can Be Amended – EU

The European Commission has stated that Russia must fully withdraw its military forces from Ukraine before the European Union considers lifting or amending its sanctions.

EU countries recently renewed their sanctions against Russia for another six months, and any changes would require unanimous approval from all 27 member states. A spokesperson for the European Commission emphasized that ending Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified aggression” is a key condition for any sanction adjustments.

This comes after the United States reached separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to pause attacks at sea and on energy targets. As part of the deal, Washington agreed to push for the removal of some sanctions against Moscow.

Russia has claimed that the U.S. agreed to assist in lifting restrictions on its food, fertilizer, and shipping companies. However, diplomats say many of the sanctions in question were imposed by the European Union, making EU approval necessary for any major changes.