Kyiv sounds alarm over US sanctions easing on Russia

Ukraine's foreign minister has expressed concern over a potential weakening of sanctions pressure on Russia amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on April 1, Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasised that Ukraine maintains the stance that meaningful progress toward a peace settlement requires continued and intensified pressure, Caliber.Az reports citing Ukrainian media.

“Therefore, any weakening [of pressure] is a sign of weakness. There should be no illusions that Russia is trying to play games with all these negotiations and meetings,” he stressed, commenting on a decision by the US Treasury to remove three vessels sailing under the Russian flag from its sanctions list.

Sybiha called for a reassessment of overly positive perceptions of Russia and called for a more realistic and critical evaluation of Moscow’s actions.

The minister also emphasised that the Russian leadership must comprehend that additional measures will be implemented if it fails to take a constructive approach. According to him, these could include expanding sanctions to cover a broader range of targets and increasing military support for Ukraine, including the supply of long-range weapons.

The Ukrainian diplomat highlighted the importance of coordinated pressure among transatlantic partners and called for resolving the issue of banning maritime services for Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

By Nazrin Sadigova