German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. File photoBERLIN, Jul 18 EU won't lift sanctions on Russia over Ukraine operation if peace is made on «conditions imposed» by Moscow, even though many Germans are suffering from inflation, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
"That we might have to keep our sanctions in place for a long time was clear to us from the start. It is also clear to us that in the event of peace on the terms imposed by Russia, none of these sanctions will be lifted,” he wrote in a column for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
At the same time, the chancellor acknowledged that many Germans as a result faced such consequences as gasoline and food prices have risen sharply, many look at electricity and fuel bills “with anxiety”. “This path is not easy even for such a strong, prosperous country as ours. We will need great restraint,” Scholz said. After the start of the Russian military special operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, the West increased sanctions pressure on Moscow. Some countries announced the freezing of Russian assets, many brands left Russia. The European Union has already put in place six packages of sanctions, including an embargo on Russian coal and oil. But this turned into problems for the West itself, provoking a sharp increase in inflation and prices for food and gasoline. The Kremlin called the restrictions an economic war like no other, and took retaliatory measures by banning foreign investors from withdrawing funds from the Russian financial system and transferring payments for gas in rubles. As Vladimir Putin noted, the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy of the West, and the sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy. Nevertheless, he is sure that the current events draw a line under the global dominance of the West both in politics and in the economy. effect of sanctions