Germany Reports Possibility of Conditional Reduction of EU Sanctions Against Russia

While Russia claims it is ready to extend sanctions against the West, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the possibility of a "step-by-step" reduction of Western sanctions against Russia. On Friday, June 7, he stated that if Russia fulfills its commitments regarding the conflicts in Ukraine, there is a chance for a gradual reduction of sanctions by the end of June (one month from now). After Russia used military force to annex Crimea from Ukraine, the European Union imposed sanctions against Russia. These sanctions were extended for another six months last December due to Russia's non-compliance with the Minsk agreement, at which time Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that these sanctions had impacted his country's economy. According to AFP, while announcing the possibility of reducing these sanctions, the German Foreign Minister warned that if the peace process in Ukraine does not progress and Russia continues to support separatists, the sanctions will remain in place. The extension of sanctions against Russia requires the agreement of all 28 EU member states, and a decision on this is expected to be made at the upcoming European leaders' meeting next month. Meanwhile, Russia has indicated the possibility of extending its sanctions against the West. According to Reuters, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instructed his cabinet ministers on Friday to propose extensions of food sanctions against the West until the end of 2017. The food export sanctions from Russia to the West began in 2014 in response to Western sanctions against the country. The EU also extended sanctions against Syria for another year on Friday. The EU sanctions against Syria were imposed due to the "brutal repression" of the country's citizens and include oil industries and the freezing of the assets of the Syrian central bank. The European Council's statement indicates that these sanctions will remain in place until June 1, 2017. Over 280,000 people have been killed and millions displaced during the political crisis and civil war in Syria over the past five years.