EU anti-Russia sanctions end on January 31?

The decision of the Council of the European Union to extend anti-Russia economic sanctions takes effect today, according to documents published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

"The decision will remain in place until January 31, 2020," TASS cited the statement as saying.

Yesterday, the Council of the European Union prolonged the sectoral economic sanctions against Russia for six months.

The senior research fellow at the European Research Centre of the International Relations Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Olenchenko, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that there are possibilities that the European Union will not extend anti-Russian sanctions after January 31, 2020. "The next chairman of the European Commission will be elected in September, which will form the renewed composition of the EC. And there is a chance that the new European Commission will take a fresh look at the sanctions and find it unprofitable for Europe," he said.

"Another chance is linked to the UK leaving the EU on October 31. If this happens, a significant irritant preventing the EU from being objective or concentrating on its affairs will be removed. We must also consider the fact that the G20 summit is now taking place, where the Russian delegation is negotiating with a wide range of European leaders. Perhaps these contacts will alleviate global tensions as a whole, which will be the third chance for the EU to revise its position on sanctions," Vladimir Olenchenko expressed hope.

Director of the Institute of Strategic Planning and Forecasting, Professor Alexander Gusev, in turn, sanctions are more likely to be extended on January 31. "The EU main condition in relation to Russia is the return of Crimea to Ukraine, which is impossible. The European Commission still has time to discuss the effect of these sanctions once again. So far, the EU leaders have voted to extend sanctions, despite the fact that we often hear calls of certain European politicians about the need to relax the restrictions. Alas, everything is largely determined by the position of the United States, not by the position of the EU leaders," he drew attention.

"The United States has a very serious influence on the EU leaders, including the leaders of Germany, Great Britain and France. By the way, the meeting of the presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Osaka gives hope that the United States may at least soften the pressure on Europe. Although it should be understood that Trump maneuvers between the interests of various congressmen and business elites. The attitude towards Russia is still complicated and tough, and American sanctions are likely to be extended, which means the EU will do the same," the expert predicts.

"2024 may be a border year here - the election of the president of Russia. The U.S. presidential election, which will take place next year, will affect the situation to a lesser extent. Most likely, Trump will run for a second term, and then practically nothing will change in our relations," Alexander Gusev concluded.