Polish MFA: Too early to soften sanctions against Russia

Poland does not agree on a possible weakening of the EU's sanctions against Russia taking into account the current situation in Ukraine.

The statement was made by secretary of state at the Polish MFA Rafal Trzaskowski in Warsaw on Wednesday, Ukrinforma reports.

“The government adheres to the position that a discussion over a possible softening of the policy of sanctions against Russia has absolutely no grounds at the current stage. Most EU countries support us on the issue, especially taking into account the fact that the sanctions seem to have a moderate effect,” Trzaskowski said at a meeting of the Sejm's EU Affairs Committee.

According to him, the issue of weakening sanctions can be discussed after Moscow takes real steps to deescalate the conflict in Ukraine.

“We don't see these steps now,” Trzaskowski said, adding that Moscow tries to shift responsibility for the conflict in Ukraine on Kyiv.

“Russia does not demonstrate its interest in the real deescalation of the situation in eastern Ukraine. Moreover, it thwarts the implementation of the Free Trade Zone Agreement between the EU and Ukraine,” Trzaskowski said.

According to him, Poland is also concerned about Russia's a hard-line position in gas talks that complicates reaching a compromise on securing a stable gas supply to Europe.