Germany's Steinmeier Favors Gradual Phasing-Out of Russia Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The European Union should gradually phase out sanctions imposed against Russia over the Ukraine crisis if there is substantial progress in the peace process, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was quoted Sunday as saying.
"Sanctions are not an end in themselves. They should rather give incentives for a change in behavior," Steinmeier told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, a network of local newspapers, Reuters reported.
Steinmeier said he was in favor of lifting sanctions gradually if the Russian government showed it was doing its part in implementing the Minsk peace plan for Ukraine, adding, "An all or nothing approach, even if it sounds good, doesn't work."
A first wave of Western sanctions against Russia was imposed in July 2014, after Moscow was accused of downing a Malaysian jetliner over Ukrainian territory.
EU and US have since targeted Russia's banking sector and blocked Russian energy companies from access to services, goods and technology used in deep-water shale oil extraction.