09:28, 1 October 2019000

Although Berlin estimates the recent exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine and the decrease of tension in the area of ​​Stanytsia Luhanska as “two positive, encouraging signals.”

The German government believes that Russia has not yet made enough efforts to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine so that the EU can lift sanctions against Moscow. This was stated by spokesman for the German government Steffen Seibert in his comment to Deutsche welle.

“The position of the German government remains unchanged: significant positive changes are needed in the implementation of the Minsk agreements in order to start thinking about lifting the sanctions,” Seibert said.

Although Berlin estimates the recent exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine and the decrease of tension in the area of ​​Stanytsia Luhanska as “two positive, encouraging signals.” However, Germany believes that this is not enough to begin lifting the sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia for the annexation of Crimea and destabilizing the situation in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department extended the sanctions against Russia due to the supplies of the aviation fuel to the Russian forces acting in Syria as the department reported.

“Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated one entity, three individuals, and five vessels participating in a sanctions evasion scheme to facilitate the delivery of jet fuel to Russian forces operating in Syria,” the message said.

Particularly, the OFAC determined Maritime Assistance firm, which is the front company supporting American Sovfracht Company. Besides, Yaz, Sig, Sudak, Passat and OT-2077 faced the sanctions.

(C) 112 International 2019