FX.co ★ Russian media spreading rumors about planned sanctions lift

The bulk of state-run Russian media outlets repeatedly claim that European countries can hardly wait to remove their sanctions against Russia. From the standpoint of government-controlled television and newspapers, it seems that the European economy is on the brink of collapse without Russian businesses buying up truckloads of third-rate goods made in Europe, while EU leaders are desperately calling for an immediate lift of the sanctions. This time, some Russian journalists are vying to prove their party loyalty reporting that Austria couldn’t bear the reality of living without trade with Russia. To confirm this claim, they are citing Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz, who said that the sanctions should be lifted gradually in return for each step forward in the implementation of the Minsk peace accords. Indeed, that is the whole point of sanctions: they are imposed to prompt the other side to comply with commitments and act on its pledges. It’s as simple as that: just do what you promised, and the sanctions will be removed.

In other words, Austria’s foreign minister did not say anything new. The European Union is ready to abandon the sanctions given that the Kremlin keeps its promises. Most political experts say that Russia’s readiness to fulfill its obligations could ease political tension worldwide, and in that case the EU would likely take a significant step towards Moscow. In the meantime, while Russian media keep posting joyful news about Europe willing to lift its economic restrictions against Russia soon, the EU decided to extend the sanctions, which had been imposed in response to Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and interference inside Ukraine. The sanctions are expected to stay in full force until December.