Moscow - The European Union could launch a process of partially lifting its sanctions imposed on Russia in a week, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported on Tuesday, Sept. 23, citing a source in EU institutions.
A decision concerning all further measures will be adopted at a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the EU in Brussels on Sept. 30, the source said.
However, Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, was unable to confirm to Kommersant that such a sanctions review could start on Sept. 30.
The EU foreign policy service has until Sept. 30 to present the Committee of Permanent Representatives with a comprehensive report regarding the implementation of the Minsk peace plan for eastern Ukraine, including the ceasefire, Kocijancic said. This report is now being prepared, she added.
According to Kommersant’s source, these measures will remain in effect ‘even if the situation is Donbas is resolved.’
However, EU officials have reiterated more than once that a key condition for reviewing the sanctions is the successful implementation of agreements to resolve the conflict in the southeast of Ukraine, the newspaper said.
