Sanctions against Russia will not be eased by the West "during the course of the ongoing process," according to Starmer.
Revised Article:
The "Coalition of the Steadfast" Takes a Firm Stance: No Sanctions Ease-Up Untilthe Conflict is Resolved
At the recent summit in Kyiv, members of the "Coalition of the Steadfast" made it crystal clear: the West won't be softening sanctions against Russia while negotiations with Putin's government are ongoing.
According to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who led the discussions, the sanctions will stay intact until the entire negotiating process is over. But Sunak didn't specify what he meant by 'process completion.'
The consensus was strengthened by the involvement of the US in this common policy. Sunak pointed out that their united position is further bolstered by the collective support of the EU, the US, New Zealand, and countries worldwide sharing the same stand.
After the summit, Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed his appreciation to Donald Trump for his support in maintaining and possibly intensifying the sanctions. In his conversation with journalists, he stated, "I appreciate President Trump... for maintaining the sanctions as they are today, and I really hope for their intensification."
The Backstory
The EU and the US have plans to ramp up sanctions against Russia if Putin flat-out refuses a ceasefire.
Following the summit on May 10, the "Coalition of the Steadfast" called upon Russia to shift towards an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting from May 12.
Current and Future Sanctions
Though the "Coalition of the Steadfast" doesn't have its own sanctions, they are involved in discussions about a possible ceasefire and peace talks in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. As of now, the EU and its member states have imposed significant sanctions on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, targeting sectors such as finance, energy, and technology. France, for instance, has pledged to stop recognizing certain Russian passports without biometric data.
If Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire, French President Emmanuel Macron has warned Russia about a new batch of sanctions. A potential ceasefire agreement would likely necessitate Ukraine's approval and should respect its sovereignty. Any agreement should address Ukraine's territorial integrity without accepting Russian annexations.
For sanctions to be eased or lifted, Russia would need to meet specific criteria such as adhering to a ceasefire and cooperation in peace negotiations, while also complying with international law. However, the detailed conditions from the "Coalition of the Steadfast" have yet to be explicitly stated.
- The "Coalition of the Steadfast" has requested an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Russia, starting from May 12.
- Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed his gratitude to former President Donald Trump for his support in maintaining and potentially intensifying sanctions against Russia.
- If Russia fails to agree to a ceasefire, France has threatened to impose new sanctions.
- Negotiations for a potential ceasefire and peace talks in the Ukraine-Russia conflict involve the "Coalition of the Steadfast".
- Easing or lifting of sanctions against Russia would require compliance with international law, adherence to a ceasefire, and cooperation in peace negotiations, according to the "Coalition of the Steadfast".
