The European Union could significantly scale back sanctions and resume discussions with Russia if Moscow moves to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine, according to an EU discussion paper, which excerpts The Wall Street Journal leads.
The document stresses that the EU can not return to their previous level ties with Moscow, but at the same time, Brussels may consider gradually normalizing many aspects of its ties with Russia if Moscow fully implement the peace, stand by its gas-supply agreement with Ukraine and throw no fresh wrenches in the way of the EU-Ukraine trade and political pact - the "Interfax-Azerbaijan" reports.
While the paper aims only to generate points for discussion, it is the first serious effort by EU officials to look at scaling back tensions and lay out some of the carrots to win Russian buy-in. The document largely reflects the thinking of those in the bloc who believe that this is a time to lean towards dialogue not further pressure on Russia, writes The Wall Street Journal.
The paper raises the question of whether the EU needs “a more proactive approach,” including a series of possible trade-offs, to induce policy change from Russia. One key idea floated is that EU sanctions on Russia be regrouped into those directly tied to the Crimea annexation and others that could be lifted if the situation in east Ukraine is normalized. The former would stay in place as long as Moscow kept control of Crimea, where the paper says “no change is expected in the short term.”
The paper says the “EU should be ready to scale down” the latter “as soon as Russia implements the Minsk agreements.”At the same time, according to the documentm there could be increased cooperation with Russia in three main areas: foreign policy, trade and sectorial cooperation.
