Trzaskowski: Poland will not soften stance on Russia sanctions

Poland is against loosening its sanctions against Russia because of a lack of deescalation of the conflict in in Ukraine, European Affairs Minister Rafal Trzaskowski has said.

The former MEP said that he hoped the EU would take the same stance.

“We present a clear position: there can be no question of any softening of sanctions against Russia in the current situation, when there is no [positive] change from Russia, there is no deescalation of the conflict, and there is no fulfillment of the Minsk Agreement,” the minister said at a committee meeting of Poland’s lower house of parliament, the Sejm.

The Minsk Agreement was the result of a meeting of parties from the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine in the Belarusian capital at the beginning of September, which outlined a 12-point plan, including the complete retreat of Russian forces from Ukraine and the immediate release of all prisoners.

However, Trzaskowski admitted that rumour among EU politicians has it that sanctions against Russia could be softened.

“It is no secret that such discussions are being held at the professional and ministerial levels, as well as within the European Council, where there are different opinions on sanctions,” he said.

The comments come as Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation at the Federal Assembly in Moscow, Thursday.

Russia respects the sovereignty of former Soviet republics, including Ukraine, Putin said in his speech.

“It is well known that Russia did not only support Ukraine’s but also other former Soviet republics’ ambitions to become sovereign countries,” Putin said.