Chizhov sees EU decision on Ukraine as intention to not change sanctions regime yet
BRUSSELS. Nov 18 (Interfax) - The EU decisions regarding Ukraine indicate member countries' intention to not change the sanctions regime, Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said.
"That decision was not unexpected, rather, it mirrored the level of consensus reached in the European Union which might be described as the wish "to not change anything for now"," Chizhov said on Monday in his comment.
Reports released on Monday that the EU foreign ministers had agreed to add a number of leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics to their blacklist. It was also said that the EU foreign ministers expected the European Commission to make new proposals on restrictive measures related to the Crimea issue, for instance, in the area of trade and visas.
"There are no concrete decisions regarding the sanctions regime, just a routine order given to the European External Action Service and the European Commission to draw up proposals on new individuals subject to sanctions before the end of the month. They probably had in mind the idea that decisions would be made in December. As you know, the European Union has its winter summit in the middle of December," the Russian envoy said.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini did not say at her press conference whether she expected a fresh round of economic sanctions against Russia to be discussed at the EU summit in December.
"I think this is probably the correct thing for her to do under the current circumstances. As far as I know, some ministers made public statements on the eve of today's event. Some said the sanctions should be tightened and the others argued that it would make no sense. It looks like the latter make up a majority," Chizhov remarked.
