HELSINKI (Sputnik) — Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Wednesday that the western sanctions imposed on Moscow could be eased or lifted in a short time.
"It is hard to say when they could be lifted, but it is not the best way to do business. The situation is such that they could be lifted or eased in a short time," Ulyukayev said at the meeting with Finnish businessmen, speaking about the western restrictive measures.
In 2014, the United States, the EU states, including Finland, and some of their allies imposed a series of economic sanctions targeting key Russian sectors as well as a number of individuals and entities over Russia’s reunification with Crimea and its alleged interference in the conflict between Kiev and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian authorities have refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive. In response to the restrictive measures, in August 2014, Russia announced a food embargo on some products originating in states that imposed sanctions against it.
