Posted on 01/22/2016 1:19:58 PM PST by Trumpinator
Kerry hints at lifting of sanctions on Russia
Top US diplomat John Kerry has stated that the Minsk peace plan could be fulfilled in the coming months, allowing sanctions on Moscow to be lifted. The Russian economy has been shaken by the embargo and low oil prices. Schweiz Davos Weltwirtschaftsforum 2016 John Kerry
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday, the US Secretary of State commented on the areas of cooperation between Washington and Moscow and the peace effort in east Ukraine.
Kerry and US Vice President Joe Biden discussed the implementation of the Minsk peace plan with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during the Davos conference, he said.
"And I believe that, with effort and with bona-fide legitimate intent to solve the problem on both sides, it is possible in these next months to find those Minsk agreements implemented and to get to a place where sanctions (against Russia) can be appropriately, because of the full implementation, removed," Kerry said.
Earlier this week, Kerry met with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, in Zurich.
Kyiv and Moscow remain at odds
The US and the EU announced the sanctions against Moscow in the summer of 2014, in response to the separatist uprising allegedly backed by Russia. The restrictions have mostly targeted Russia's banking, energy and defense sectors.
In December 2015, the EU prolonged its sanctions for another six months, saying that the Kremlin has failed to fully comply with the Minsk accord.
US officials have also linked the lifting of the embargo with the peace effort.
Many elements of the Minsk deal have already been put into action, including a break in fighting and withdrawal of heavy weapons. However, Moscow and Kyiv continue to trade blame for the unresolved issues, which include local elections in the rebel-held areas and greater autonomy for the separatist regions.
Moscow accuses US of 'provocations'
The Russian economy has been struggling to absorb the losses caused by the Western sanctions, with the low oil prices and falling ruble adding to the instability.
The EU has also been facing increasing pressure from some members to ease the sanctions and allow European companies to do business on the Russian market.
Despite the positive signals on the economic front, relations between Moscow and the West remain strained.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry accused the US of spreading anti-Russian propaganda and conducting "provocations" against Russian diplomats, according to Reuters news agency. The barb follows the US decision to withdraw the credentials of five Russian honorary consuls.
Only a day earlier, a UK probe indicated that the Kremlin "probably approved" a murder of an ex-KGB agent. Moscow rejected the findings as a "joke."
dj/kms (Reuters, Interfax, Ukrainski Novini)
Will this be the time teamobama tells the world we have given up all our nukes? more flexibility and all.
I stopped reading this horse chit - -right there!
They have to lift the sanctions. They need money in the economy.
I think the money will be a cash payment to Kerry. He and the One can make a lot of deals in the last year.
The word is Shit, not chit. When we self censor ourselves in a world with no moral limits, we have already lost.
Out of curiosity does anybody know how many countries we currently have imposed sanctions on and who they are? Because at the rate he’s going Omoron will eliminate all sanctions with all countries before he leaves office.
Let me guess: They will lift all existing sanctions and put them all on Israel.
Did Putin agree to give Crimea back?
Is that the same Kerry who served in Vietnam?
No, only the low brow constantly speak like that.
Oh yeah, that kerry who was aboard all those the swift boats.
Just what are the sanctions against Russia? Since enactment, have they had any effect on Russia? If they are removed would they in any way have a positive effect on their hurting economy? Or are they neutral to the Russian economy? - just wondering.
I trust FR more than the WH Spox.
More harmful to Russian economy are actions of liberal government, Bank of Russia and low oil prices.
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