EU Insists on Full Russian Military Withdrawal Before Sanctions Can Be Eased

On Wednesday, the European Union announced that it will not revise or lift sanctions on Russia unless the country agrees to withdraw its military from Ukraine unconditionally.

As part of negotiations with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia this week, Russia is seeking relief from sanctions in connection with a potential ceasefire in the Black Sea region. The Kremlin asserts that any agreement can only take effect after the suspension of Western sanctions that impact its agricultural exports.

Specifically, Russia is pushing for the removal of restrictions imposed on Rosselkhozbank, a state-owned agricultural lender that was sanctioned by the EU in 2022 and removed from the SWIFT international banking system.

Anitta Hipper, a spokesperson for the European Commission, stated that “the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine would be one of the main prerequisites for any modification or lifting of sanctions.”

She pointed out that while the EU was not involved in the discussions taking place in Saudi Arabia, it has “taken note” of the talks’ outcomes. Hipper also emphasized that “Russia must now show a genuine political commitment to conclude its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression.”

She added that Brussels remains “prepared to support forthcoming actions alongside Ukraine, the United States, and other allies.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the White House did not mention the possibility of lifting sanctions as part of the proposed ceasefire plan for the Black Sea. It only indicated that the plan would help restore “access to the world market” for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has applied multiple sanctions against Russia, along with tariffs on agricultural products from Russia and its ally Belarus to increase financial pressure on Moscow.

Nevertheless, Brussels has been careful to avoid implementing measures that could disrupt the global grain market or threaten food security in Africa and Asia.

Hipper underscored that EU sanctions “do not target trade in agricultural products, including food, grain, and fertilizers, between Russia and third countries.”