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MP believes anti-Russian sanctions may be eased if new US leadership stops pressure EU

A Russian senior lawmaker sees a chance that sanctions will be gradually eased or cancelled if the new US administration does not exert pressure on the EU

Valentina Matviyenko EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

Valentina Matviyenko

© EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

MOSCOW, November 10. /TASS/. A chance for easing the anti-Russian sanctions exists, if the new US leadership stops exerting pressure on the European Union as was done by the previous administration, Speaker of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, Valentina Matviyenko said on Thursday.

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"I want to hope that the new administration unencumbered by previous decisions won’t exert so powerful pressure on the European Union in this regard. If there is no such pressure from the new US administration (I hope this won’t be the case), there is a chance that these sanctions will be gradually eased, cancelled," the Federation Council speaker said in an interview with Rossiya-24 TV Channel.

The Federation Council speaker reiterated that the issue of Crimea for Russia had been resolved finally and was not subject to discussion.

"As for Crimea, we’ll never discuss this theme with anyone in any format. The issue has been resolved in accordance with international law, taking into account the will of the population. This is already part of Russia, within Russia’s full jurisdiction. For us, this theme is not subject to discussion," Matviyenko said.

The European Union and the United States started imposing sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine events and Crimea’s reintegration into Russia in March 2014. The sanctions were numerously expanded and prolonged.

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