German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. File photoBERLIN, Jun 10 A cessation of hostilities in Ukraine will not be the only condition for lifting sanctions against Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
"What we are doing also includes the fact that we have imposed sanctions (against Russia), therefore it is also right that efforts be made so that as many countries as possible join the sanctions, because they are one of the tools along with with the supply of arms, the allocation of financial assistance, (this is an editor's note) strengthens the ability to help Ukraine so that it can determine its own democratic future, so that it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and so that in the future it has a combat-ready army that would provide her independence. This is what lies behind the sanctions", he said at a press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Scholz noted that all the restrictions introduced since 2014 are still in effect. He also added that the condition for their termination should be the general normalization of the situation, «Russia must reach an agreement and agreement with it, which would lead to the fact that the sovereignty and territorial integrity will be really protected,» Scholz believes. After the start of a special military operation to denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine, the West stepped up sanctions pressure on Moscow. Restrictive measures primarily affected the banking sector and high-tech products. Many brands announced their withdrawal from Russia.
Why Ukraine is not Vietnam or KoreaMoscow called such steps an economic war, noting that it was ready for such scenario. The Central Bank is taking measures to stabilize the situation on the foreign exchange market, thanks to which the ruble has significantly strengthened against the dollar and the euro, breaking five-year highs. Russia also transferred payments for gas supplies to unfriendly countries into rubles. Another step to combat the impact of Western sanctions was the plan prepared by the government, which includes about a hundred initiatives. Its funding will amount to about a trillion rubles. At the same time, in the West, restrictions provoked a record increase in fuel and food prices. mitigate the consequences of sanctions against Russia