French Ambassador: Economic sanctions on Russia aren't on current EU agenda
MOSCOW. July 2 (Interfax) - The European Union is not considering economic sanctions on Russia so far, French Ambassador in Moscow Jean-Maurice Ripert said.
"A third phase of sanctions is not on the current agenda. Yet the possibility remains," he said in an interview with Interfax.
"No one in Brussels has suggested considering the third phase of sanctions at the European Council sitting," he noted.
Ripert said he hoped the third phase of sanctions on Russia could be avoided.
"All of us hope this can be avoided and the ongoing diplomatic efforts will resolve the crisis [in Ukraine]," the diplomat indicated.
The ambassador stressed that EU sanctions did not target Russia but aimed at persons involved in "the annexation of Crimea".
"The list of these persons may be extended, but these are not sanctions on Russia," the French diplomatic mission chief said. He said that the EU had declared a common position on the possibility of sanctions on Russia.
The European Council Permanent Representatives Committee discussed in Brussels on Tuesday the entire range of issues pertaining to the Ukrainian situation, including Russia's incorporation of Crimea, Ripert said.
In his words, the European Union deemed the incorporation of Crimea illegal.
"This implies a number of legal decisions, for instance, we do not recognize the application of Russian laws on the Crimean territory," the ambassador said.