WASHINGTON, March 27. /TASS/. By refusing to ease sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and Russian vessels exporting agricultural products, the European Union is trying to disrupt the agreements between Russia and the United States on a ceasefire in the Black Sea, said US portal Responsible Statecraft.
The Belgium-based SWIFT system is subject to EU sanctions legislation. According to experts, SWIFT will not be able to reconnect Russian banks to its network until the European Union changes its sanctions legislation, the Euractiv portal reported earlier. In addition, on March 26, European Commission Spokesperson Anita Hipper said that lifting sanctions against Russia would only be possible when Russia pulls troops out of Ukraine.
Responsible Statecraft says that the EU's tough stance with regard to sanctions threatens to derail the "delicate" peace negotiations between the United States and Russia.
Moscow and Washington agreed during expert consultations in Riyadh on March 24 to implement the Black Sea initiative, including security measures, and agreed to develop steps to cease fire on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine for 30 days. The Kremlin said that the agreements between Russia and the United States on the Black Sea will come into force only after the lifting of sanctions against Russian ships, the Russian Agricultural Bank and other banks involved in the export of agricultural products.