BERLIN – U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker believes that sanctions against Russia have not worked yet, but will harm the country over time, he said in an interview with Deutsche Welle TV and radio company.
“I would not say [that sanctions do not work]. I would say that they did not work, but it’s different. I think many people in Russia realize that sanctions have a negative impact on their country. And they will be affected even more if the restrictive measures are resumed. And this will happen. The EU regularly extends sanctions. The United States will add new names to the list. I think that everyone understands that this will harm Russia in the course of time, and in Russia they want the sanctions to be lifted, but the condition for their implementation is the actual implementation of the Minsk agreements,” Volker said.
Volker stressed that the Minsk agreements are very important. However, in his opinion, Ukraine believes that the Minsk agreements failed because they did not lead to the end of the conflict.
Volker intends to meet with presidential aide Vladislav Surkov in Dubai on Jan. 26.
