MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The problem of anti-Russian sanctions is a long-term one and Russia is in no talks with the European Union on that matter, Russia’s Permanent Representative at the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said on Friday.
"I don’t think we should be clapping our hands or jumping with joy," he said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel answering a question whether reports about some countries’ plans to seek cancellation of the anti-Russian sanctions were a positive sign. "I think the problem of sanctions is a long-term one."
The problem of sanctions "is a subject for dialogue with neither France, nor the European Union, nor the United States" as "it was created not by us," he said. "It is to be solved by those who have created it. In this case, by the European Union."
Despite the fact that many member countries of the European Union are calling for abandoning the anti-Russian sanctions, the decision to impose these sanctions was taken unanimously, he noted. "European solidarity is becoming a goal in itself, regardless of the essence of the sanctions and the loss they are incurring, especially sectoral sanctions, on the economies of the European Union countries," the Russian diplomat said.
In December, the European Union extended its anti-Russian sanctions till July 31, 2016.