Lavrov: Moscow has no intention to discuss Western terms for lifting sanctions
MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - Moscow has no intention of discussing criteria for lifting sanctions; the West should lift the sanctions on its own, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"Clearly, we are not going to discuss certain criteria for lifting the sanctions. Those who have imposed them [the sanctions] should lift them. We have no intention of fulfilling somebody's far-fetched demands," Lavrov told executives from member companies of the European Business Association in Moscow on Tuesday.
"There is no doubt the sanctions are harmful. Unilateral sanctions are an unlawful element, which is condemned by the UN General Assembly," the Russian foreign minister continued.
"We view the restrictions imposed by the European Union as unlawful moves, which neither help de-escalate the conflict nor protect the rights of the population in Ukraine," Lavrov said.