“I believe that the EU should immediately withdraw any sanction against Russia,” Matteo Salvini told Sputnik Monday.
Last week, the European Council agreed that economic sanctions against Russia will remain in place and will be linked to the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The EU reserved the right to take further measures if necessary.
European countries appear divided on the need to continue the sanctions policy toward Moscow, with Italy, Austria, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary and Slovakia mainly calling for the withdrawal of the sanctions.
Since the Ukrainian conflict escalated in April 2014, the European Union, the United States and their allies have imposed a number of economic sanctions against Moscow, blaming it for interfering in Ukraine’s internal affairs.
Moscow has repeatedly denied its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, adding that Western sanctions run counter to the principles of international law.
