At this stage, the senior official stated that it is “too early to discuss which specific sanctions should be lifted as part of any agreements. Right now, our focus is on ensuring that Russia takes significant steps in that direction. Only then can discussions about lifting sanctions begin.”
“We’ve already noticed that the Russians are inquiring about the possibility of having some sanctions removed, at least partially,” Vlasiuk continued. “This helps us better understand which sanctions are causing them the most pain. Knowing this gives us leverage, and we must use it strategically.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly growing increasingly worried about his country’s struggling economy. Russia has lost billions in oil and gas revenue due to reduced trade with the West, and many businesses and skilled workers have fled the country since the war began three years ago.
Vlasiuk, who also serves as secretary of the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions, emphasized that any lasting agreement would need to include security guarantees for Ukraine. Additionally, Kyiv would seek “justice for our people,” which would likely involve “compensation for Ukrainians” in recognition of the hardships they have endured.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to end the war while simultaneously cutting military aid to Ukraine. At the same time, he has threatened Moscow with additional sanctions and tariffs if it refuses to negotiate. The White House confirmed on Friday that special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow earlier this week and spoke directly with Putin.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly agreed to a proposed ceasefire but has cautioned that Putin is not genuinely interested in peace. He has urged for stricter economic measures to pressure Russia into backing down.
Leave a Reply