The USA and the EU decided to soften sanctions against Russia. European officials have found legal tools to ease sanctions without officially lifting them. For example, the restrictions are relaxed through “refinements”.
Source: Representative of Ukraine to the European Union Vsevolod Chentsov
Chentsov noted that the EU has made some clarifications concerning the import of Russian agricultural products to third countries, which consist of two points.
“Firstly, certain bans on transactions have been lifted, but only in the agricultural sector. And secondly, certain bans have been lifted on the use of frozen assets in banks that have already been disconnected from SWIFT or included in the sanctions lists,” he explained.
Thus, companies from the European Union are allowed to conduct transactions with individual legal entities to purchase or transport agricultural products and fertilizers.
At the same time, according to the representative of Ukraine to the EU, such exceptions were made in order to stop manipulations by the Russian Federation, that the European Union and Ukraine are arranging a food crisis on world markets.
In addition, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued blanket licenses for transactions with Russia involving food, seeds, fertilizers, drugs and medical equipment. In particular, transactions were allowed on:
- production, manufacture, sale or transportation of agricultural goods, agricultural equipment, medicines, medical products, spare parts or software updates for medical devices;
- prevention, diagnosis or treatment of COVID-19 (including research or clinical trials related to COVID-19);
- ongoing clinical trials and other medical research.
Speaking about the agreement on Ukrainian grain export signed in Turkey, the Russians have repeatedly voiced demands for the easing of sanctions.
But the agreement was signed without Russian demands. There was no mention of the lifting of sanctions from Russia in the published text of the agreement, but concessions were made. The West seems to have achieved the release of Ukrainian grain, but it can hardly count on the conscientious implementation of the agreement by Russia.
Russia demands concessions, using blackmail or taking advantage of Western countries. The resolving of issues by easing sanctions causes concern, because one compromise may lead to others.
See also: Russia has declared a “gas war” to Europe
