EU Ambassadors Approve of Keeping Sanctions Against Russia

European Union ambassadors on Tuesday said they approve of keeping sanctions against Russia in place because of the situation in Ukraine, Reuters reported citing EU officials

BRUSSELS, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - European Union ambassadors on Tuesday said they approve of keeping sanctions against Russiain place because of the situation in Ukraine, Reuters reported citing EU officials.

"We are keeping the status quo," Reuters quoted one official as saying after a meeting to discuss the ceasefire situation in eastern Ukraine.

"No one even talked about the possibility [of lifting the sanctions] given the situation on the ground," Reuters quoted a second official as saying.

On September 30, the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives was expected to review the implementation of the peace plan in Ukraine based on the assessment made by the European External Action Service (EEAS). Depending on the results of the review, the European Commission and the EEAS could propose to amend, suspend or lift sanctions imposed on Russia.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said earlier this month that the European Union has "always stressed the reversibility and scalability of our restrictive measures."

The European Union, alongside the United States, has introduced several rounds of sanctions against Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis, an allegation Moscow has repeatedly denied. The latest batch of sanctions targeted Russian energy and defense companies, as well as certain individuals.

On September 28, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said ultimatums were an inefficient way of communicating with Russia, a country open to cooperation. Moscow also said that sanctions posed a threat to international peace and stability and contradicted the principles of international law.

Credit to RIA Novosti